The Book Garden

1.000 Followers Giveaway

2012-02-27T09:00:00.006+01:00

I still remember how excited I was when I first hit the 50 followers mark. A slow trickle that soon developed into a gushing river. And today? I'm still as excited to see new faces reading my blog. Not as though I'd actually see those faces hovering around my computer screen when I go to my blog (now that'd be scary), instead I rely on good old GFC to tell me good news like this!

Long story short - I've passed the 1.000 followers hurdle and it's time to say thank you to everyone out there for stalking me and my bookish passion. Now what would be a good way to celebrate this milestone? Let me think ...

... how about a giveaway?

*cheerful woohoo's and thundering applause*

There will be two winners - as I want to spread my love equally there will be one winner from the US who'll receive an Amazon Giftcard worth $25,00 and one international winner who'll get their choice of books worth up to $25,00 from The Book Depository!
Please note: This giveaway is open worldwide, but only for countries TBD offers free shipping to - please check here.

All you have to do is fill out the form!

Yep, first time I'm actually not going for the good old leave-a-comment method and I'd like to blame Blogger for this. Since they implemented the admittedly wonderful option of directly replying to comments I haven't been able to get the whole numbered-comments-thingy to work again *sigh*. The last giveaway hop nearly killed me as I counted three times to be sure about having the correct winner. Anyway, form it is, but comments filled with cheering and woohoo's are very much appreciated too!

Rules
Comments do not count as entries - you must fill out the form!
For this particular giveaway following my blog is obviously mandatory, after all it is thanks to my followers that I'm having it. That said, you must be a follower of my blog! You may follow through your preferred channels such as GFC, Networked Blogs, Bloglovin', Linky Followers, Goodreads, RSS feed or by e-mail.
One entry per person.
Open worldwide.

Winner
The giveaway is open from February 27th through March 7th - two winners will be picked through random.org on March 8th and will then be contacted by e-mail as well as announced here on my blog. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and if he/she fails to do so I will draw a new winner.

2 by 2 Giveaway Winner

2012-02-25T09:00:00.003+01:00

The lucky winner of the February 2 by 2 Giveaway is
Susan @ The Book Bag
who picked the book The Complete Book Of Hugs!

E-mail is on the way and please get back to me within the next 48 hours!

2 by 2 Giveaway

2012-02-22T08:00:00.008+01:00

Welcome to the February edition of the 2 by 2 Giveaway on my blog!

Two things everyone needs?

Hugs and love, of course!

And chocolate too, but I digress.

The Complete Book Of Hugs (Ricky Friedel)

The Simple Truth About Love (Bradley Trevor Greive)

Once this post goes live you have two days (48 hours) to enter by telling me which of the two books you'd like to win and don't forget to leave your e-mail address so I may contact you in case you're the winner.
Please note: This giveaway is open worldwide, but only for countries TBD offers free shipping to - please check here.

Rules

Following my blog is no requirement, but greatly appreciated.

One entry per person.

Open worldwide.

Winner

One winner will be picked through random.org on February 25th and will then be contacted by e-mail as well as announced here on my blog. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and if he/she fails to do so I will draw a new winner.

Hiatus (sort of)

2012-02-20T09:00:00.006+01:00

After giving this some extensive thought, I've decided to take off the next four weeks and subject you all to my blog's first hiatus ever. The reason for this is that I've felt pretty much drained of energy lately and I need a little bit more me-time. One week just won't cut it, two weeks might not quite get me back into a more energetic state, and while three weeks oughta get the job done I'm adding week number four to be on the safe side.

And I'm not completely gone anyway. Old habits (also known as daily blogging) die hard and so I will at least stop by on Sundays to share what I read during the week and if there've been some book-shaped goodies in the mail I'll post about those too.

On a different note. I've already scheduled a few posts for the next couple of weeks. Not "real" posts, but interesting enough to make you want to stop by. First of all there will be the February and March editions of the 2 by 2 Giveaway. Secondly I'll squeeze in the next Old Books in need of a New Home post during those four weeks as well. Thirdly I'll participate in the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop which will run from March 17th through March 22nd.

Last but not least, as some of you might have noticed, I passed the 1.000 followers mark just recently which translates into a wee little celebration, or shall I say the 1.000 Followers Giveaway? That one'll be coming up on February 27th.

Everything will be back to its usual schedule on March 19th!

In My Mailbox - Here we go (again)

2012-02-19T14:10:00.002+01:00

Well, what do you know? Food for my starving mailbox, yay! And I'm especially happy and thrilled about a gift I received from a dear friend *doing the happy dance*.

Gifted

Complete Stories (Dorothy Parker)

from Ally

For Review

Triumph Of The City (Edward Glaeser)

from Pan MacMillan

Thanks to The Story Siren for hosting the IMM meme!

The Reading Files - Novella Time

2012-02-19T14:00:00.016+01:00

This past week has been solely dedicated to novellas. The reason? Apart from the wonderful feeling of scratching seven books from my unread books list I'm very proud for finally getting started on books from last year's free eBook hoarding.

The following books are all from Carina Press, which basically means they all offer a whole lot of romance. Who am I kidding? We're talking more like Erotica, in most cases anyway.

The Sevenfold Spell (Tia Nevitt)

eBook

Source: free

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Have you ever wondered what happens to the other people in the fairy tale?
Things look grim for Talia and her mother. By royal proclamation, the constables and those annoying "good" fairies have taken away their livelihood by confiscating their spinning wheel. Something to do with a curse on the princess, they said.
Not every young lady has a fairy godmother rushing to her rescue.
Without the promise of an income from spinning, Talia's prospects for marriage disappear, and she and her mother face destitution. Past caring about breaking an arbitrary and cruel law, rebellious Talia determines to build a new spinning wheel, the only one in the nation--which plays right into the evil fairy's diabolical plan. Talia discovers that finding a happy ending requires sacrifice. But is it a sacrifice she's willing to make?

Title & Cover: Lovely and perfect for the story!

Story: A whole new take on the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty!

Narrative: Bubbly and even a wee bit silly, but in a good way!

Characters: These characters are a wonderful crossover of your typical fairy tale cast and people you probably know in real life.

Thoughts: The first couple pages made me wonder where this story was going, but then I couldn't help but continue reading (and giggling for that matter). Definitely an unusual fairy tale retelling and oh so much fun!

Photographs & Phantoms (Cindy Spencer Pape)

#1.5 Gaslight Chronicles

eBook

Source: free

Genre: Paranormal Romance

As a member of the Order of the Round Table, Kendall Lake is overqualified to be investigating strange phenomena at a seaside photography studio. But since the photographer is related to the Order's most powerful sorcerer, Kendall reluctantly boards a dirigible to Brighton.
Amy Deland is haunted by a shadow that appears in some of her recent portraits. In each case, the subject died within days of the sitting. Does she have her grandmother's gift of foresight, or has she somehow caused the deaths?
As Kendall and Amy search for answers, their investigation draws them together in a most improper way—but it seems the evil presence in the studio is determined to keep them apart ...

Title & Cover: Good one! Love the color theme!

Story: Photographs show a demon killing people. Whodunit with a paranormal touch.

Narrative: Your average read - not overly thrilling, not boring either.

Characters: The characters certainly have potential, but alas it's a short book, so ...

Thoughts: Actually more of a long short story than an actual novella this was quite an enjoyable read. Yet I could have seriously done without the whole romance thing as it felt more shoehorned into the plot than actually belonging there.

The Debutante's Dilemma (Elyse Mady)

eBook

Source: free

Genre: Historical Romance

One woman in search of passion
Miss Cecilia Hastings has achieved what every young lady hopes for during her first London season…in duplicate! She’s caught the eye of not one but two of England’s most eligible bachelors. Both Jeremy Battersley, Earl of Henley, and Richard Huxley, Duke of Wexford are handsome, wealthy and kind, the epitome of proper gentlemen. But Cecelia doesn’t want proper, she wants passion. So she issues a challenge to her suitors: a kiss, so that she may choose between them.
Two men in love with the same woman
Friends since childhood, and compatriots on the battlefields of Spain, falling for the same woman has set Jeremy and Richard at odds, and risks destroying their friendship forever. But a surprising invitation to a late-night garden tryst soon sets them on a course that neither of them could have anticipated. And these gentlemen quickly discover that love can take many forms …

Title & Cover: Innocent girl with a naughty streak? The cover says it all.

Story: Girl can't choose between two suitors and ... chooses both. Okaaay!

Narrative: I really loved the eloquent writing (despite sometimes feeling the need to get out the dictionary) - yep, I recognize talent when I see it!

Characters: Uhm alright, they weren't bad, but frankly this little book lives off the hot scenes if you know what I mean *wink*.

Thoughts: To be honest, there's not much of a story here, then again this is a very short book. If you like well written steamy stories, I say go for it.

The Twisted Tale Of Stormy Gale (Christine Bell)

eBook

Source: free

Genre: Steampunk Romance

I'm a time pirate—born in 1810, now a 21st-century woman. I travel through time trying to right wrongs without disrupting the fragile balance between what is and what can never be.
That's why it's vital that I go to 1836 and find the man who conned my brother out of his Time Travel Mechanism as quickly as possible. If the technology falls into the wrong hands, it could change the world as we know it. The notorious Duke of Leister definitely qualifies as the wrong hands. An amateur scientist of the slightly mad variety, he's bound to figure out how to use the TTM sooner rather than later.
I knew this wouldn't be easy. But I wasn't counting on him being as sexy as hell. Or winding up chained to his bed …

Title & Cover: Neat cover, yet what's up with that title?

Story: Time travel with a twist (which might explain the title after all).

Narrative: Light but witty!

Characters: I'm having a hard time judging characters in such short books, argh!

Thoughts: As a novella it was an ok read, yet I really see this one working as a full fledged novel. The right ingredients are definitely there.

Blue Galaxy (Diane Dooley)

eBook

Source: free

Genre: Science Fiction Romance

Falling in love is easy; staying alive long enough to enjoy it just might be impossible.
Javan Rhodes, the hard-drinking, disreputable captain of space freighter The Kypris, took a mission to save himself from hitting the bottom of the food chain. Transporting Sola, a beautiful young aristocrat, from Earth to an unknown destination on the outer rim of the colonies is lucrative, but also highly illegal.
As tough as it is to evade both the law and the lawless, the hardest part of the job is not falling in love with his irresistible cargo. Just as he decides that he will never be able to hand her over to the warlord she must marry, he discovers that Sola has been playing a very dangerous game--one that could not only cost them their lives, but could also affect the balance of power in an increasingly dangerous universe.

Title & Cover: Ewww ... that cover is definitely a turn-off!

Story: Captain transports some sexy cargo which isn't at all what she seems.

Narrative: Maybe not awful, but pretty darn close.

Characters: Let me introduce you to a dumb-thinking-with-his-you-know-what captain and a psychopathic-super-sexy cargo, uhm, heroine.

Thoughts: Where do I begin? Alright then. The idea itself isn't all that bad, but ... oh never mind.

Demon's Fall (Karalynn Lee)

eBook

Source: free

Genre: Paranormal Romance

When Kenan, an incubus, finds a caged angel for sale in the Hellsgate marketplace, he sees her as a challenge. Certain that his skills in seduction will work as well on a heavenly creature as they do on mortal women, he buys Jahel, intent on having her soul as a novelty in his collection.
Knowing he must gain Jahel's trust if she is to come to his bed willingly, Kenan treats her more as his guest than as his slave. When she reveals what brought her to the mouth of Hell in the first place-retrieving the soul of a young girl she was guarding-he even offers to help her complete her mission.
Though he has promised Jahel freedom, Kenan soon realizes she has captured his heart instead. And as their passion for one another grows, they find themselves caught in a struggle between Heaven and Hell, one that will lead them to the very edge of the apocalypse ...

Title & Cover: Beautiful and works great with the blue monochromatic color scheme!

Story: Incubus wants to steal an angel's soul and instead falls in love with her.

Narrative: Fast paced and well written. Pulled me right into the story.

Characters: This could have been a total black & white thing, but it's not, yay!

Thoughts: Loved the world building of this one and could well imagine more stories in this setting. And what a sweet HEA!

Friendly Fire (Megan Hart)

eBook

Source: free

Genre: Contemporary Romance

After Agent Kendall Frasier's partner is shot in "friendly fire" during a drug bust, she agrees to take a week's vacation on a tropical island as part of her psychiatric evaluation. Sand, sun, sea--what could be better to help her work through her guilt? Even if the presence of the man responsible for the shooting, Agent Zane Vincent, seems counterproductive to her mental health.
As Kendall gets to know Zane, and realizes he feels worse about what happened than she does, it becomes impossible to hate him. And their mutual attraction becomes impossible to deny.
Kendall and Zane soon agree to put the event that brought them together in the past--and spend the present exploring their most erotic desires. Do they have a future in the real world when their week in paradise is over?

Title & Cover: A man's chest, no matter how nice it may be to look at, doesn't translate into great cover art. This one's just so, well, bland!

Story: In the aftermath of a shooting, the two affected agents come to terms with what happened and get to know each other, uhm, a little bit better too.

Narrative: A quick, sexy read!

Characters: Short and romance and complex characters do go together after all.

Thoughts: I just realized this is the only contemporary story I read in this novella haul and it proves how even shorter books (alright, let's call it more of a long short story again) can have well devised characters and an actual plot which is something that not even full novels don't always have.

Pajama Musings - They didn't always used to sparkle

2012-02-18T11:00:00.007+01:00

Apropos of nothing (alright then, slightly inspired by a recent Buffy TV marathon) I started pondering the question why I've never gone for the Twilight books (or movies for that matter). It's not as though I'd be totally averse to the genre in general or vampires in particular. So why then do I still thoroughly enjoy some blood sucking brain candy and not the lovely dovey sparkling kind?

Here's the answer ...

Sparkle free since 1997!

To be fair though ...

... those werewolves leave something to be desired in the Buffy-verse.

Book 101 - The oldest books in the world

2012-02-17T11:00:00.004+01:00

When you think of old books what's the first thing (or rather book) that comes to mind? Those old hardbacks you've stored in the basement or maybe your grandparent's old tomes? Maybe you think Shakespeare or even the Bible, but books (or more precisely, writings in general) go way back longer than that.

The earliest examples of literature date from 2600 BC, during the early Bronze Age. Examples from these early writings are often found inscribed on clay tablets, and needless to say, the language used is very different from modern Western languages. Ultimately these oldest books represent the cultural heritage of us all.

Let me introduce you to the twenty oldest writings in the world - Sumerian, Akkadian and Egyptian. Some you might have heard of, others will be as new to you as they were to me.

Instructions of Shuruppak: Representing what is known as Sumerian wisdom literature, the Instructions of Shuruppak was meant to teach virtue and community standards.

Code of Urukagina: This is a book of law. The rules in the Code of Uruagina were part of an effort to combat the corruption under a previous ruler.
Epic of Gilgamesh: You’ve probably heard of the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh - and if not, shame on you - following the exploits of this great hero.
Curse of Agade: Tells the story of the fall of the Akkadian empire, due to the cursing of the king, Agade.
The Debate Between Bird and Fish: A philosophical essay, postulating a debate between a bird and a fish. A number of these literary essays exist in Sumerian literature.
Code of Ur-Nammu: Pre-dating the Code of Hammurabi by three centuries, the Code of Ur-Nammu has the most complete set of laws of old books.
Lament for Ur: When the great Sumerian city of Ur fell to the Elamites, the literary Lament for Ur was written to express the sorrow of the patron goddess of the city.
Enmerkar and the Lord of Arrata: A great, legendary account of the conflict between two great kings. Many scholars have drawn parallels between some of the themes in Enmerkar and the Lord of Arrata and the Tower of Babel story.
Legend of Etana: Interestingly, the Legend of Etana tells the story of the Sumerian king Kish, and how he obtains a son with the help of Eagle - and what happens after.
Enheduanna’s Hymns: An example of women in early literature are the hymns of the priestess Enheduanna, an important woman in Ur.
Laws of Eshnunna: The city state of Eshnunna had its own set of laws. There are differences between the laws in this book, and the famous Code of Hammurabi, are instructive about the development of law in ancient times.
Epic of Gilgamesh: This made it to the list twice. Why? Because the Akkadians, centuries after the first stories of Gilgamesh were told, fashioned the stories into one of the earliest examples of epic poetry.
Kultepe Texts: These texts represent some of the first writings found in Anatolia. The Kultepe Texts include Histories of rebellions against the Akkadians.
Enuma Elish: The Akkadian creation epic, the Enuma Elish, can help you understand the Babylonian worldview.
Atra-Hasis: Tablets containing the Atra-Hasis contain an account of how the humans came to be, as well as an account of the Great Flood.
Pyramid Texts: You’ve probably heard of the Pyramid Texts. These prove that a book can even be inscribed on the walls of an edifice.
Palermo Stone: Chronicles the rise of legendary rulers before the god Horus. The Palermo Stone is an example of legendary history.
Maxims of Ptahhotep: This ancient text, a literary work ascribed to the ruler Ptahhotep, sets out proper rules governing human relationships.
Coffin Texts: The coffin texts, written on (as you might expect) coffins, provide a look at the evolving Egyptian view of the afterlife.
Story of Sinuhe: Perhaps one of the finest examples of Egyptian literature - or any literature -the Story of Sinuhe offers a moving story of divinity and mercy and other universal themes.

Source: Librarian Masters

Picture Garden - Mirror Mirror

2012-02-16T11:00:00.000+01:00

MIRROR MIRROR

Beyond the Shelf - Fiction Factor

2012-02-15T11:00:00.003+01:00

Today I have an interesting site for all those writers out there. Fiction Factor - The Online Magazine for Fiction Writers. Every month the site features tips on writing better fiction, articles on improving your writing, tips on fiction writing, learn to write a novel and get stories published, promoting and marketing your fiction and much more! To stay in the loop off the latest articles you can subscribe to the free newsletter, but of course you may also browse the archives for older articles.

Fiction Factor was one of the first websites dedicated solely to the craft of writing fiction at a time when those were still rare in the web. Twelve years have passed and what remains are a whole lot of tips and tricks for writers of all kinds, yet the site itself, as I sadly had to find out while browsing through it, hasn't seen much action in recent years. Yet, despite its derelict state, you may obviously still find bucket loads full of writing tips.

There is also a forum which is still going (relatively) strong. Here you may join discussions, peruse writer's resources, and get creative in the writer's workshop.

Fiction Factor is also the home to 9 sister sites, each focusing on a specific fiction writing niche. Here you'll find descriptions of and links to Romance Factor, Sci-Fi Factor, Horror Factor, Fantasy Factor, Erotica Factor, Short-Fiction Factor, Children's Fiction Factor, Freelance Factor and Christian Fiction Factor.

Follower Love Giveaway Hop Winner

2012-02-15T09:00:00.004+01:00

The lucky winner of the Follower Love Giveaway Hop is
Sandra @ Waiting for Wentworth
who has won a $15,00 Amazon GC or a book of choice from The Book Depository!

E-mail is on the way and please get back to me within the next 48 hours!

Quote Garden - Just remember, when you’re over the hill, you begin to pick up speed

2012-02-14T11:00:00.003+01:00

I think I've discovered the secret of life -- you just hang around until you get used to it.

All his life he tried to be a good person. Many times, however, he failed.
For after all, he was only human. He wasn't a dog.

Learn from yesterday, live for today, look to tomorrow, rest this afternoon.

Sometimes I lie awake at night and I ask, "Why me?", then a voice answers "Nothing personal, your name just happened to come up.

There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people... Religion, Politics, and The Great Pumpkin.

By Charles M. Schulz

A Writer's Life - Commandments

2012-02-13T11:00:00.002+01:00

This one has already been making its rounds on Facebook lately and I felt the need to share with my readers as well. Actually I don't think this is only good advice for writers, but for other occupations too. Though I bet No. 6 might confuse those who're working for the Mafia *cough*.

The Reading Files - Brave New World

2012-02-12T14:00:00.008+01:00

You certainly know the phenomenon of wanting to have certain books straight away and once you have 'em they end up spending substantial amounts of time on your TBR piles. Being too lazy to dust off one particular towering pile, where I've stacked all kinds of dystopian books, I did the next best thing. Pick them up, and read.

Enclave (Ann Aguirre)

#1 Razorland

hardcover

Source: gifted

Genre: Dystopia / Post-Apocalyptic

In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.
As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.
Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first Deuce thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.
As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.

Title & Cover: Mehhh!

Story: Born into a world with strict rules, Deuce is outcast and soon finds herself in a strange world above ground where her battle for life continues.

Narrative: Gripping!

Characters: I liked Deuce as she's a real kick-ass heroine, and Fade really grew on my too. Everyone else sadly remains quite one-dimensional.

Thoughts: Captivating premise, yet the book lacks detail and depth! So much potential but due to its shortness it remains flat and unsubstantial which is a real shame.

Ashes (Ilsa J. Bick)

#1 Ashes Trilogy

hardcover

Source: won

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic

It could happen tomorrow . . .
An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.
Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.
For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.
Author Ilsa J. Bick crafts a terrifying and thrilling novel about a world that could be ours at any moment, where those left standing must learn what it means not just to survive, but to live amidst the devastation.

Title & Cover: There are several different, and better, covers out there, yet this one's mine and I am a little underwhelmed!

Story: The EMP kills some, and changes others. Some develop strange new abilities while others morph into really smart zombies.

Narrative: Fast paced and adventurous, it kept me on my toes all the way through!

Characters: I loved Alex from page 1. She's certainly not easy to get along with, but she's got edge. Ellie on the other hand I wanted to strangle with a passion. And Tom, well he rocks!

Thoughts: Open end, anyone? This was such an engrossing read and then one killer open end and so many questions that remain unanswered. What about Ellie? And Tom? Argh!

Wither (Lauren DeStefano)

#1 The Chemical Garden

hardcover

Source: won

Genre: Dystopia

By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children.
When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can't bring herself to hate him as much as she'd like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband's strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, and Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. Will Rhine be able to escape--before her time runs out?
Together with one of Linden's servants, Gabriel, Rhine attempts to escape just before her seventeenth birthday. But in a world that continues to spiral into anarchy, is there any hope for freedom?

Title & Cover: Absolutely gorgeous!

Story: Girls get abducted to be turned into brides for the rich. Add a dystopian society. Stir.

Narrative: Drab!

Characters: I couldn't connect with any of the characters and for the most part I blame it on the dreary tone of the novel.

Thoughts: I really wanted to like this book, but it literally bored me out of my mind. No ups or downs, it just went on and on before it eventually ended. And don't even get me started on the whole girls die at age 20 and guys at age 25 premise - there's no chance in hell that genetics will make you drop dead on your exact birthday. Is asking for a bit of leeway in that regard too much?

Well then, for the first time this year (day 43 of my book buying ban) there won't be an IMM post. Seeing how I'm waiting for two books I've won and some for review as well, this might only be a brief interruption in Birgit's non-self-bought-book-haul-presentation! See you again next week! Hopefully ...

Review - If Walls Could Talk (Lucy Worsley)

2012-02-12T10:00:00.001+01:00

An intimate history of home life. It takes us through the bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen, covering the architectural history of each room, but concentrating on what people actually did in bed, in the bath, at the table, and at the stove.
Why did the flushing toilet take two centuries to catch on? Why did Samuel Pepys never give his mistresses an orgasm? Why did medieval people sleep sitting up? When were the two 'dirty centuries'? Why did gas lighting cause Victorian ladies to faint? Why, for centuries, did people fear fruit? All these questions will be answered in this juicy, smelly and truly intimate history of home life. Lucy Worsley takes us through the bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen, covering the architectural history of each room, but concentrating on what people actually did in bed, in the bath, at the table, and at the stove. From sauce-stirring to breast-feeding, teeth-cleaning to masturbation, getting dressed to getting married, this book will make you see your home with new eyes.

Review

You don't have to hold a suspenseful thriller in your hands to be engrossed by things that happen behind somebody's walls. In If Walls Could Talk Lucy Worsley takes the reader on a tour not only through the house, but through the centuries. From medieval peasants to Henry VIII, from Victorian aristocracy to your own grandparents - the actual main characters are all their humble dwellings.

I realize some might find this to be an awfully mundane topic, but trust me, it is not yet another boring history lesson. If you're even slightly interested in the origins of the four main rooms in a house - bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen - you will not be disappointed. Unraveling the uses and relevance of these living places over the centuries - just take the bedroom which used to be a living space before becoming the very private place it is today - the author does not simply cross the development of household appliances off a list, but instead embeds many fascinating historical tidbits of what the lives of those were like who dwelled in these homes into a well rounded picture.

Engaging and informative this proved to be quite the page turner for me! The conversational style made reading all the more fun - a wonderful journey into times long gone during which I learned a thing or two about the colorful past of the houses we still live in today.

In short: A thoroughly enjoyable history lesson!

5/5 stars

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the NetGalley.com book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Winner of "A Tea Reader"

2012-02-12T09:00:00.004+01:00

The lucky winner of A Tea Reader (Katrina Avila Munichiello) is
Amy

E-mail is on the way and please get back to me within the next 48 hours!

Pajama Musings - Read my Tea

2012-02-11T11:00:00.005+01:00

So I like to read.

And I like tea.

How come I never thought to combine these two

(other than in my respective reading challenge)?

So I guess I'm going to win the lottery sooner than I thought ... more likely though I'll do the happy dance because spring will finally arrive!

For your own Tea Leaves Reading head on over to Tazo and consult the Tea Leaf Oracle! Feel free to share your result!

Book 101 - Speculative Fiction

2012-02-10T11:00:00.005+01:00

One of my favorite realms in writing (and reading for that matter) is Speculative Fiction. This umbrella term or category includes the more fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history.

Speculative Fiction deals with the what-if scenarios in all its possibilities. The earliest forms were probably mythological tales being told around the campfire. Today you'll find stories that take you on journeys to other worlds or on magical quests, people will have supernatural powers or be able to travel through time. While all of these fall into individual genres, often crossing borders between those genres too, they have one thing in common - they are Speculative Fiction.

In its English language usage in arts and literature since 20th century, the genre term is often attributed to Robert A. Heinlein though he used it specifically as a synonym for Science Fiction, and explicitly stated that his use of the term did not include fantasy. The use of Speculative Fiction to show dissatisfaction with traditional Science Fiction was popularized in the 1960s and early 1970s by Judith Merril though it fell in disuse soon thereafter. In the 2000s, the term has come into wider use as a convenient collective term for a whole set of genres.

To me it seems that the category of Speculative Fiction opens up whole new dimensions especially where just one designated genre, eg. Science Fiction, simply does the book no justice. How often have you marveled what genre a certain book exactly falls into? More than just once, right? And you're not alone with that. Maybe calling many novels out there Speculative Fiction is taking the easy route of not having to put it where it's not fully at home.

And, as an afterthought, some authors don't want to be pigeonholed solely as a Science Fiction writer, thus declaring themselves at home in the realms of Speculative Fiction. Well, one of those authors might be me ... but that's just because what I write can't be pigeonholed either. Some of my stories are clearly Science Fiction, but others cross over this genre's border in all kinds of directions. It almost looks like the term Speculative Fiction has been invented for me.

Tid-bit for the road: The term Suppositional Fiction is sometimes used as a sub-category designating fiction in which characters and stories are constrained by an internally consistent world, but not necessarily one defined by any particular genre.

Picture Garden - Walk On By

2012-02-09T11:00:00.001+01:00

WALK ON BY

Beyond the Shelf - Austrian and German Book Bloggers

2012-02-08T11:00:00.004+01:00

Some of you - more precisely those who speak German - might remember my search for Austrian and German book bloggers who decided to blog in the English language. It wasn't all that hard for me to add a selected few blogs I already followed *waves hello to Rikki and Sabrina* onto that list, yet I felt kinda lonely out there, seemingly the only Austrian book blogger near and far.

Then word started to spread and lo and behold my lists started to grow. I was even able to add a blogger from Switzerland! And I also found two other Austrians who have English book blogs!

I discovered Amberkatze's Book Blog purely by coincidence through GoodReads. And Katharina from Daisy Chain's Chocolate-covered Books was the one to actually find me. While I recommend a visit to all the blogs listed below, those two are especially dear to me, so feel free to stop by and let the girls know that you found about about them here at The Book Garden.

Yep, it's a good feeling not being the only one out there and I still have high hopes of maybe finding more blogs in Austria, as well as Germany and Switzerland!

Maybe there are even some blog readers in these countries who've just started an English book blog - I'll happily add you to my list which will give you exposure that every blogger craves in the humble beginnings.

Here's the list I created so far:

# Austria

+ Switzerland

30 Nights Insomniac

About Happy Books

Amberkatze's Book Blog #

Beauty is a sleeping Cat +

Book Exhibitionism

Book That Thing!

Daisy Chain's Chocolate-covered Books #

Fictional Distraction

From Books Paradise

life as a journey

Miss Page-Turners

Rikki's Teleidoscope

Safari Poet

The Book Garden #

Thinking About Loud!

Once again, if you know of any additional book blogs in either country (emphasis being on the blogs being about books, duh, and in the English language) let me know so I may add them!

Quote Garden - Let me look this up ...

2012-02-07T11:00:00.006+01:00

The point, Ms. Conyers continued, is that no word had one specific definition. Maybe in the dictionary, but not in real life.

Sarah Dessen

Everything starts somewhere, though many physicists disagree. But people have always been dimly aware of the problem with the start of things. They wonder how the snowplough driver gets to work, or how the makers of dictionaries look up the spelling of words.

Terry Pratchett

I was reading the dictionary. I thought it was a poem about everything.

Steven Wright

Words - so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them.

Nathaniel Hawthorne

As far as I'm concerned, the only difference between fact and what most people call fiction is about fifteen pages in the dictionary.

Charles de Lint

Follower Love Giveaway Hop

2012-02-07T06:00:00.010+01:00

Welcome to the

Follower Love Giveaway Hop
(February 7th - February 14th)
hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Rachael Renee Anderson

What is a giveaway hop? That's simple. Each participating blog hosts a giveaway and then we link up together allowing our followers to hop easily from one giveaway to another. For followers this means lots of chances to win free books and other goodies. For blogs hosting a giveaway it means lots of new visitors and followers. It's a win-win!

I'm giving away an Amazon Giftcard worth $ 15,00 (if you're from the US) or a choice of book(s) worth up to $ 15,00 through The Book Depository (if you're international)

Please note: This giveaway is open worldwide, but only for countries TBD offers free shipping to - please check here.

As there is the lovely word Follower in this blog hop title, all you have to do is follow me publicly on GFC (if that doesn't work for you for one reason or another, you may also follow through other channels, such as: RSS feed, e-mail, Networked Blogs, Bloglovin', Linky Followers or Goodreads - just let me know which way you follow in the comments) and don't forget to leave your e-mail address with your comment so I may contact you in case you're the winner.

Rules

One entry per person.
Open worldwide.

Winner

One winner will be picked through random.org on February 15th and will then be contacted by e-mail as well as announced here on my blog. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and if he/she fails to do so I will draw a new winner.

And now, head on over to the rest of the blog hop participants!

A Writer's Life - Who's supposed to decipher this?

2012-02-06T11:00:00.003+01:00

It's interesting, really, how our handwriting will change over the years. When I come across old notebooks from when I was just a wee child going to elementary school I always marvel at the lovely, if obviously child like, script on the pages. Then the years passed, and things got a bit more sloppy during Senior High. What finally did me in was my oath to eventually buy myself a dictaphon for all those Uni courses, because the fast scribbling to keep up with the lectures was rather annoying. Each semester I said I'd buy one, but then the last year at Uni had arrived and I figured that now it'd be a waste to get one. Even if I had, the fate of my handwriting had already been sealed during the first year of breaking speed records with pen on paper.

It's funny, really, that I didn't end up as a doctor. Looking at my handwriting this would seem like a perfect choice. But no. Equally I didn't grow sick of writing as such either. I just moved from writing by hand to typing on the keyboard which helped a lot as far as being able to read it goes. Of course I've always been great in deciphering my own scrawl, but other folks often had (and still have) trouble to read it when I'm actually trying very hard to write pretty.

I've always admired people with a beautiful handwriting. In a lot of cases they will write quite fluently aka fast without sacrificing the readability or the eye-pleasing look of their letters. I'd love if my own scrawl could be magically transformed to pre-Uni looks again as that would already be quite an improvement. Maybe my scrawl will never look like calligraphy, but it doesn't hurt trying, right?

So, I googled around for a bit and came up with this ...

... now the question would be - do I want the world to be able to read my scribbles in this lifetime or in the next! I'd probably be starved before I manage to jot down the final item on my grocery shopping list. Besides, who cares about how my grocery shopping list looks like except for me?

And now be thankful that blog posts are being typed and not actually written by hand. Especially my hand.

As Rikki asked for it, I decided to add a wonderful example of my handwriting. Those are some lines from the song White Birds by Loretta Velvette, in case anyone should be wondering.

Old Books in need of a New Home Winner

2012-02-06T09:00:00.002+01:00

Curious about who managed to convince me that they had the best new home for some of my old books? Well, admittedly I had to resort to the good old names-on-paper-slips drawing as I liked all your answers of why you want to give the books a new home.

Some old books have found a new home!

But with whom and where?

With miki in Belgium!

I'll contact you shortly to get your addy for sending the box out!

The next Old Books in need of a New Home post will be up in about a month and by the looks of it the box will be filled with cozy mysteries! See you again next time!

Guest Post & Giveaway with Katrina Avila Munichiello, author of "A Tea Reader"

2012-02-05T15:20:00.009+01:00

Today I've got a real treat for all those tea lovers out there. This obviously includes all the brave participants in my Tea & Books Reading Challenge too!

A Tea Reader contains a selection of stories that cover the spectrum of life. This anthology shares the ways that tea has changed lives through personal, intimate stories. Read of deep family moments, conquered heartbreak, and peace found in the face of loss. A Tea Reader includes stories from all types of tea people: people brought up it the tea tradition, those newly discovering it, classic writings from long-ago tea lovers and those making tea a career. Together these tales create a new image of a tea drinker. They show that tea is not simply something you drink, but it also provides quiet moments for making important decisions, a catalyst for conversation, and the energy we sometimes need to operate in our lives.

The stories found in A Tea Reader cover the spectrum of life, such as the development of new friendships, beginning new careers, taking dream journeys, and essentially sharing the deep moments of life with friends and families. Find reflections of yourself and those you know in stories such as a tea shop owner whose heart is broken by Hurricane Katrina, and then finds the strength to start again, or a woman sharing a last moment with her father over a cup of tea.
Whether you are a tea lover or not, here you will discover stories that speak to you and inspire you. Sit down, grab a cup, and read on.

A warm welcome to Katrina Avila Munichiello who authored the book A Tea Reader, and who will share with us how she came to combine two things we both love - tea and books!

It never ceases to amaze me how the smallest moment can completely change the trajectory of your day, your week, and sometimes even your life.

I had been writing my Tea Pages blog for a couple of years when I received an email from a tea vendor. The man’s name was George Constance and he ran a company in Connecticut called Indonique Tea. This is what he wrote, “My company, Indonique Tea & Chai, evacuated from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and is rebuilding in the New England area...Our Authentic Indian Masala Chai was called the ‘best in New Orleans.’...We’d like to send you a sample for a review. We’re assuming you’ll be kinder than the other Katrina we briefly met in New Orleans.”

I have to confess that it was the little joke at the end that most endeared George to me, but it was also how much information was packed into those few lines. I knew I had to find out more. As he told me his story I was already trying to figure out how to share it with others. Certainly I could write about it on my blog, but I wanted a bigger audience. That’s when I realized that his was just one of thousands of tea stories and memories out there. Why didn’t someone capture them? Then I decided that that “someone” would be me.

I spent the next year collecting essays through an open blog call and by reaching out to people in the industry. I researched older writings and even traveled to London to spend time in the British Library. In the end I collected dozens of stories that all tell of a special memory with tea. There are stories of reverie -- those quiet moments of reflection, career changes, trips, ceremonies and traditions, and tales of unforgettable times with friends and family.

The book “A Tea Reader: Living Life One Cup at a Time” was released in October by Tuttle Publishing and the response has been overwhelming. I even received a note from a woman in Singapore whose husband bought the book in an Indonesian airport. Surreal. I’ve done readings and book signings and met amazing people.

Tea changes people’s lives. It gives us the space, the quiet, and the opportunity to experience unforgettable moments. What are your favorite tea memories?

Thank you very much for this little journey into the world of tea, Katrina! It was a pleasure having you here and I wish you all the best with your book and for your future.

Want to find out more about Katrina? Visit her website.

000

Katrina has generously offered one of my wonderful readers their very own copy of A Tea Reader. All you have to do is leave a meaningful comment (don't forget to answer Katrina's question about your favorite tea memories) and leave your e-mail address with your comment so I may contact you in case you're the winner.

Rules
Following my blog is no requirement, but I obviously won't object if you do.

One entry per person.
Open worldwide.

Winner
The giveaway is open from February 5th through February 11th - one winner will be picked through random.org on February 12th and will then be contacted by e-mail as well as announced here on my blog. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and if he/she fails to do so I will draw a new winner.

Tea & Books Reading Challenge

2012-02-05T15:10:00.005+01:00

For those who missed my January post - welcome to the Tea & Books Reading Challenge!

Sign-ups are still open in case someone wants to join the challenge, and seeing how we've still got most of the year ahead of us, it shouldn't be too much of a problem to sink your teeth into some heavy tomes. So, if you want to join just leave a comment with your name, blog link, and the level you're going for. For more details please go to the Tea & Books Reading Challenge page!

Alrighty, how am I doing so far? Obviously I have to set a good example which is why I already tackled my first tome early on. The book I read was The Passage (Justin Cronin) and frankly, it was a real disappointment. I'm not scared of epic journeys or the dystopian and post-apocalyptic genres, on the contrary I love books like that, but this one *sigh* was just plain awful. I realize some folks love it, but it sure didn't work for me. Right now I'm hoping I'll have more luck with the next book in line, Under The Dome (Stephen King). After that? I must confess I haven't made up my mind about the rest of the books for this challenge yet, then again I have plenty to choose from, so we'll see which ones I eventually decide to pick up.

One down. Five more to go.

How about you? Have you started on the first chunkster by now? If so, which one?

Stay tuned for a very special Tea & Books giveaway coming up next!

Dean Koontz Reading Challenge

2012-02-05T15:00:00.005+01:00

For those who missed my January post - welcome to the Dean Koontz Reading Challenge!

Sign-ups are still open in case someone wants to join the challenge, and seeing how we've still got most of the year ahead of us, it shouldn't be too much of a problem to plow through some of Dean's novels. So, if you want to join and be number 13 in the list (that's what you get for waiting so long to sign up, duh) just leave a comment with your name, blog link, and the level you're going for. For more details please go to the Dean Koontz Reading Challenge page!

Alright then, how am I doing so far? Well, I would set a bad example if I announced not having read at least one book, right? Seeing how I plan to read six I've still go plenty of time, yet I figured getting a head start wouldn't hurt much either. So I already devoured the first two books, Hideaway and The Vision. If it weren't for the fact that those came as an Omnibus edition, I might have read only one, but somehow with books like that I always feel the need to finish all novels that are included. And did I like them? Of course I did and with the huge gap since reading them the last time (when I was still a wee teenager) it was almost as if I read some whole new books. I should seriously consider re-reading books more often, then again seeing how huge my piles of unread books are *sigh*.

Two down. Four more to go.

How about you? Have you started on the first Koontz novel by now? If so, which one?

In My Mailbox - Uhm, alright ...

2012-02-05T14:10:00.005+01:00

... I realize that it's starting to look a bit strange with all those IMM posts despite my book buying ban, but if you look closely you'll see that the books I did receive were all hoarded fair and square!

Won

Blood And Other Cravings (Ellen Datlow)

from Nocturnal Book Reviews

All That Bleeds (Kimberly Frost)

from Amberkatze's Book Blog

For Review

Partials (Dan Wells)

from NetGalley

Thanks to The Story Siren for hosting the IMM meme!

The Reading Files - Oldies but Goldies

2012-02-05T14:00:00.005+01:00

I got started with the first book, or rather books for my Dean Koontz Reading Challenge this week. Throw in a book for review and it's safe to say I've been an awful good reader!

Dean Koontz Omnibus: Hideaway / The Vision (Dean Koontz)

hardcover

Source: bought used

Genre: Thriller / Paranormal

Hideaway: Although accident victim Hatch Harrison dies en route to the hospital, a brilliant physician miraculously resuscitates him. Now, Hatch and his wife Lindsey approach every day with a new appreciation of the beauty of life - until a series of mysterious and frightening events brings them face to face with the unknown. Hatch was given no glimpse of the After-Life during the period when his heart stopped, but he has reason to fear that he has brought a terrible Presence back with him ... from the land of the dead.

The Vision: Mary Bergen, a clairvoyant, foresees murders that will happen in the near future, but she is unable to prevent them. Now she has actually begun to see dreadful events through the eyes of a serial killer - and somehow he knows that she is there, that she is with him. Mary can't see his face, but he knows hers - and he's got to kill her before she sees too much and is able to expose him.

Title & Cover: Eerie cover that fits perfectly for the first book, not so much for the second, but that's the fate of many omnibus editions!

Story: Both novels center around people who can see very bad things happening through the eyes of vicious killers. Needless to say, soon the killers are after them too!

Narrative: Typical Koontz style - fast paced, elaborate, very nicely weaved tapestry of words!

Characters: The good, the bad and ... where the heck is Koontz' trademark retriever!?

Thoughts: Re-reading those books was like meeting a long lost friend again. Even though I knew what was happening I loved this dip into the author's earlier novels. He's come a long way since then, though his most recent books left me rather disappointed which made these two even more worthwhile.

If Walls Could Talk (Lucy Worsley)

eBook

Source: NetGalley

Genre: Non Fiction / History / Lifestyle

Title & Cover: Does the cover fit the book? Yes. Does it fit my taste? Not quite.

Story: The story of the home - literally!

Narrative: Engaging and informative this proved to be quite the page turner for me!

Characters: From medieval peasants to Henry VIII, from Victorian aristocracy to your own grandparents - though the actual main characters would have to be all their humble dwellings.

Thoughts: Now that's a history lesson to my liking! Thoroughly enjoyed it!

FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW

Review - The Psychopath Test (Jon Ronson)

2012-02-05T10:00:00.003+01:00

In this madcap journey, a bestselling journalist investigates psychopaths and the industry of doctors, scientists, and everyone else who studies them.
The Psychopath Test is a fascinating journey through the minds of madness. Jon Ronson's exploration of a potential hoax being played on the world's top neurologists takes him, unexpectedly, into the heart of the madness industry. An influential psychologist who is convinced that many important CEOs and politicians are, in fact, psychopaths teaches Ronson how to spot these high-flying individuals by looking out for little telltale verbal and nonverbal clues. And so Ronson, armed with his new psychopath-spotting abilities, enters the corridors of power. He spends time with a death-squad leader institutionalized for mortgage fraud in Coxsackie, New York; a legendary CEO whose psychopathy has been speculated about in the press; and a patient in an asylum for the criminally insane who insists he's sane and certainly not a psychopath.
Ronson not only solves the mystery of the hoax but also discovers, disturbingly, that sometimes the personalities at the helm of the madness industry are, with their drives and obsessions, as mad in their own way as those they study. And that relatively ordinary people are, more and more, defined by their maddest edges.

Review

While Jon Ronson has previously paid tribute to men who stare at goats, he's now giving all those madmen out there a scrutinizing look in his book The Psychopath Test, almost single-handedly solving the puzzle of a mysterious book and the person behind it.

I must admit that before I started reading, and even throughout the first chapter, I thought this book was riding mostly on the humorous wave, yet it turned out to be wonderfully entertaining and self deprecating, while at the same time taking a smart and serious look at what psychopaths are made of. Jon skilfully eases into the subject taking the reader on a journey through the madness industry. Not just observing, he inevitably finds himself doing amateur diagnosis of those around him, and he does not spare himself either.

One has to wonder about that fine line that separates crazy from normal. Why do some people end up in a mental institution despite appearing to be perfectly normal folks? Or what about high achievers who show scarily many traits that fit into the scheme of "psychopaths"? Do the mad know they are mad? Could it be possible, just how Scientologists believe, that there is no such thing as mental illness?

This book won't give easy answers to any of these questions, instead it tries to make sense, sometimes doubting then believing, but most of all making you rethink your own preconceptions and knowledge.

In short: A fascinating topic - a wild, mad read!

4/5 stars

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Pan MacMillan. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Pajama Musings - To Shake or to Pear

2012-02-04T11:00:00.002+01:00

So there we were, just two bookaholics sitting in a coffee shop getting a well deserved sugar rush from cake and croissants, when my sister in crime said to me, "They're closing down the big bookstore at the Mall!" Of course in times like these, closing bookstores aren't such a new thing, but news like these do make my heart grow heavy as it always reminds me of the wonderful days when I'd spend breaks between lectures in various bookshops ... browsing, and inevitably shopping.

While my friend would rather rename her dog than buy books online, I once again tried to convince her to have a look around on Amazon. "You can even browse through the first few pages online now.", I explained. Her stare was a mixture of dread and curiosity. "I might take a look.", she declared, and I knew that most likely she wouldn't as she's too much into the whole touchy feely thing when it comes to buying books. Can't say I blame her. I was like that myself for many years, but seeing how much cheaper I get books in the English language online I am seldomly seen inside bookstores now.

"And the local library sucks!", I ventured. "What local library?", she gave back. Our laughter was cut short by the fact that actually making fun of that thing someone decided to name LIBRARY in out hometown rather asks for tears. And not those of joy. Nibbling on her croissant my friend said, "A foreign language library would be awesome!" We both emitted a dreamy sigh that made the waitress turn and cast us a strange look.

After the waitress was gone I turned back to my friend. Not straying all that far from our book talk, I asked about Shakespeare. My friend's shoulders sagged again. "Did you hear that the authorship for some of his work is questioned?" I swallowed a bite of chocolate cake and replied, "I had no idea your dog could even write!"

Book 101 - Punk'd

2012-02-03T11:00:00.003+01:00

As a big fan of the science fiction genre it may comes as quite a surprise that I'm fairly new to the in recent years growingly popular Steampunk sub-genre. Maybe it's simply because science fiction offers a huge variety of sub-genres or maybe it's because the word as such is slightly irritating - probably both. I mean, seriously. Steam? Punk? In one word?

Steampunk is actually more than a simple sub-genre of science fiction, as it can also dip into fantasy, alternate history, and speculative fiction. While there are a few classic works - just think H. G. Wells and Jules Verne - out there, this genre only ever reached its mainstream fame during the 1980s and early 1990s. As the name already suggests, it involves a setting where steam power is still widely used, usually Victorian era Britain or "Wild West" era United States. Works of steampunk often feature anachronistic technology, or futuristic innovations as people in Victorian times might have envisioned them, spruced up with a Victorian perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style and art. Contemporary authors of the genre would be Gail Carriger and Scott Westerfeld among many others.

While I was looking up clever things to say about Steampunk I also found out about sub-sub-genres that were completely new to me. Decopunk is a recent subset of the Steampunk genre, centered around the Art Deco and Streamline Moderne art styles, and based around the period between the 20s and 50s. Sometimes it is also called Dieselpunk though critics usually claim Dieselpunk to be a gritty version of Steampunk while Decopunk is more of a sleek, shiny very Art Deco version of the same period.

Think I'm finished with all those punks? Not quite.

Sticking to the science fiction genre, there is also Cyberpunk which is a postmodern sub-genre focusing on "high tech and low life". The name was originally coined by Bruce Bethke as the title of his short story Cyberpunk, published in 1983. It features advanced science, such as information technology and cybernetics, coupled with a degree of breakdown or radical change in the social order. Cyberpunk often centers on a conflict among hackers, artificial intelligences, and megacorporations, and tend to be set in a near-future Earth, rather than the far-future settings or in outer space environments. Can you say post-industrial dystopia?

Straying from the science fiction genre let's have a look at a whole different genre that only shares the second part of the name with each other. If you're a fan of horror you will at least have heard about Splatterpunk or maybe even read a book or two. The term was coined in 1986 by David J. Schow and it refers to a movement within horror fiction distinguished by its graphic, often gory, depiction of violence and "hyperintensive horror with no limits." If you're more into traditional, meekly suggestive horror stories, this sub-genre certainly isn't for you. Best known author in the genre are probably Clive Barker and Richard Christian Matheson. Interestingly the term gained prominence in the 1980s and 1990s, just like the Steampunk and the Cyberpunk genres, so maybe it was something in that era that made the addition of the term "punk" obligatory for new word creations.

What's your take on Steampunk? Ever heard of the sub-sub-genres of Decopunk and Dieselpunk? Ever thought about Cyberpunk as dystopia? And how about some Splatterpunk as late night read?

Oh, and in case you should be aware of any other genres that include the word "punk", please let me know!

Picture Garden - Splash Of Pink

2012-02-02T11:00:00.000+01:00

SPLASH OF PINK

Beyond the Shelf - Blogthings

2012-02-01T11:00:00.002+01:00

I already blogged about Blogthings last year and seeing how they always add new quizzes, I simply had to draw your attention to this fun site again. While you'll find quizzes about pretty much any topic, needless to say, they obviously have a few relating to reading, writing, and blogging, i.e. Reading Blogthings, Writing Blogthings, and Blogging Blogthings. Head on over and feel free to share your results in the comments!

Here are just some of the results I got …

You Are a Fantasy Book

You can't help but see the world as how you want it to be. You are an idealist.

You don't put bounds or limitations on your thoughts. You are a down to earth daydreamer.

You can picture whole other worlds and lives. You have a very vivid imagination.

You're the type of person who would like to believe anything is possible. You believe there's so much more to this world than what we see.

What Type of Book Are You?

You Should Be a Science Fiction Writer

Your ideas are very strange, and people often wonder what planet you're from.

And while you may have some problems being "normal," you'll have no problems writing sci-fi.

Whether it's epic films, important novels, or vivid comics...

Your own little universe could leave an important mark on the world!

What Type of Writer Should You Be?

Your Blog Should Be Purple

You're an expressive, offbeat blogger who tends to write about anything and everything.

You tend to set blogging trends, and you're the most likely to write your own meme or survey.

You are a bit distant though. Your blog is all about you - not what anyone else has to say.

What Color Should Your Blog or Journal Be?

Quote Garden - Trust me, I'm telling you stories

2012-01-31T11:00:00.002+01:00

Autobiography is not important. Authenticity is important. The writer must fire herself through the text, be the molten stuff that welds together disparate elements. I believe there is always exposure, vulnerability, in the writing process, which is not to say it is either confessional or memoir. Simply, it is real.

I didn’t want to tell the story of myself, but someone I called myself. If you read yourself as fiction, it’s rather more liberating than reading yourself as fact.

Everyone who tells a story tells it differently, just to remind us that everybody sees it differently. Some people say there are true things to be found, some people say all kinds of things can be proved. I don't believe them. The only thing for certain is how complicated it all is, like string full of knots. It's all there but hard to find the beginning and impossible to fathom the end. The best you can do is admire the cat's cradle, and maybe knot it up a bit more.

Language is a finding-place not a hiding place.

In the library I felt better, words you could trust and look at till you understood them, they couldn't change half way through a sentence like people, so it was easier to spot a lie.

By Jeanette Winterson

A Writer's Life - Are you Right for Writing?

2012-01-30T11:00:00.003+01:00

So you like to write. That's great!

(after all you should love what you do)

So you have wonderful dreams of what life as a writer must be like. Fantastic!

(imagination is everything)

But, and there is always a but, is writing right for you?

(just because you think it's for you doesn't mean it really is ... just think about your love for sushi - you'll scoff a whole plate of delicious dead fish and spend the next hours, uhm, rotating on the toilet; granted that might not happen while writing, at least not literally)

I came across this fun and spot on quiz on Holly Lisle's author page. Let's just say there are quizzes and there are QUIZZES ... this one being the latter! All you have to do is honestly answer ten questions and then you get a pretty good idea whether you're cut out for being a writer. Or not. Needless to say I don't really need to take that quiz, I already know I'm both creative and wacky enough to justify owning a mug with the word WRITER on it. I also own a matching shirt, but I digress. Obviously this didn't keep me from the fun of answering those questions and unsurprisingly I've got what it takes ... including a mug and a shirt.

Still not sure whether you want to check out the quiz yourself?

Here's a teaser ...

When you see yourself as a successful writer, what is the image that is clearest in your mind:
A. The rounds of publishers’ parties, autographings, and talk shows where you are lionized for your work of immortal literary genius?
B. Your name on the spines of a shelf full of beautiful books?
C. A vision of sending off a completed manuscript to a waiting editor or agent?
D. Your butt in your chair, your fingers on your keyboard, and your eyes on your monitor (or whatever tools you use to produce your stories or novels.)

You read:
A. The occasional newspaper, magazines, and remember having read books . . . but not recently;
B. You read in your free time if you don’t have something better to do;
C. You invented the term multi-tasking because reading IS your “something better to do — you usually have a book in hand no matter what else you’re doing at the time;
D. Your house doesn’t need insulation; the triple-stacked shelves of all your books will serve quite nicely, thank you.

Curious? Just head on over and don't forget to come back here letting me know how you fare!

Old Books in need of a New Home

2012-01-30T09:00:00.002+01:00

Welcome to the first edition of Old Books in need of a New Home where I'll be giving away a nice sized box filled with books to one lucky person.

How does it work?

First of all, this isn't a regular giveaway which means the receiving person will be handpicked by me and not random.com as I want to make sure the books find the best home. Now you may wonder what you have to do to convince me you're the best choice for the homeless books. Easy. Just comment and let me know why you want them. In case there are several highly convincing comments I'm going to do the good old drawing of a paper slip from a hat to determine the person who'll receive the box.

What's in the box?

I aim to have a themed box full of books from a certain genre, with certain authors, etc. and by full box I mean up to ten books. That'll also depend on their format/size. Titles and authors will be listed along with the condition the books are in.

Themes I have in mind (so far) are chick-lit, mysteries, and YA. Most boxes will be filled with English books, though there might be the occasional box with German books only too.

What condition will the books be in?

They are not going to be spanking new. These books have been read by me and can be in any condition ranging from almost new to having been pawed through several times before. I will always state the exact condition the books are in so you can decide whether you want to enter or not. I realize not everyone likes used books, especially when they look the part, but fear not, I will also be giving away books that have been very gently read by me only and those look almost like new from the store.

Who can participate?

You have to be a follower of my blog (any way you want to, I'm not picky - GFC, RSS feed, e-mail, Networked Blogs, Bloglovin', Linky Followers or Goodreads) and you have to live in Europe! I really hate to leave out my international readers, but it's just too darn expensive to send a box full of books overseas.

What's in the box?

Chick lit, yay!

Alexandra Potter

What's New, Pussycat?

Going La La

Calling Romeo

Do You Come Here Often?

Kate Harrison

The Secret Shopper's Revenge

The Secret Shopper Unwrapped

The Starter Marriage

Condition?

Except for the hardcover I bought all the books used and their condition ranges from good to very good. Some of the books have yellowed pages as they are older editions.

And now, comment away!

Tell me why you want to win these books.

Tell me which country you're from (to make sure you really are from somewhere in Europe).

Tell me how you follow (like I said, I'm not picky, so simply follow the way you like best).

Tell me how I can contact you in case you're being picked as the winner.

This post will be open for a week, but time may be extended in case of low entries.

In My Mailbox - Empty? Guess again!

2012-01-29T14:10:00.003+01:00

It's the end of January and still I'm able to present you with some bookish loot despite my book buying ban. Well, let's see how long this luck will last!

For Review

Surprised By Laughter (Terry Lindvall)

from BookSneeze

Won

Ich habe den Todesengel überlebt (Eva Mozes Kor and Lisa Rojany Buccieri)

from Hauptverband des Österreichischen Buchhandels

Meine Reise in die Welt der Gewürze (Alfons Schuhbeck)

from Weltbild

Thanks to The Story Siren for hosting the IMM meme!

The Reading Files - Pointy feet and fingers

2012-01-29T14:00:00.010+01:00

And round two of reading cozy mysteries. Let me tell you, they are perfect in the cold season!

Murder Most Frothy (Cleo Coyle)

#4 Coffeehouse Mystery

paperback

Source: bought used

Genre: Mystery

Clare Cosi’s new friend, millionaire David Mintzer, has an offer no New York barista could turn down: an all-expenses-paid summer away from the sticky city. At his Hamptons mansion, she’ll relax, soak up the sun, and, oh yes, train the staff of his new restaurant. So Clare packs up her daughter, her former mother-in-law, and her special recipe for iced coffee for what she hopes will be one de-latte-ful summer …

Soon, Clare tends the coffee bar at her first Hamptons gala. But the festivities come to a bitter end when an employee turns up dead in David’s bathroom - a botched attempt on the millionaire’s life. Thanks to the Fourth of July fireworks no one heard any gunshots, and the police are stuck in holiday traffic. Concerned for everyone’s safety, Clare begins to investigate. What she finds will keep her up at night - and it’s not the java jitters …

Title & Cover: Once again lots of legs and pointy shoes, though this time I actually like the quirkiness of the bullet shooting through the froth on the coffee!

Story: This time Clare stays in the Hamptons and it doesn't take long before she stumbles over the first dead body!

Narrative: A light read with a summery vibe!

Characters: Not all too happy how the main characters are all being crammed into the plot - they deserve better!

Thoughts: Decent murder mystery and I found myself drooling over those coffee recipes (again)! Still can't stop grinning because of that funny cover!

Decaffeinated Corpse (Cleo Coyle)

#5 Coffeehouse Mystery

paperback

Source: bought used

Genre: Mystery

At the Village Blend, Clare Cosi's best baristas may refer to a decaffeinated espresso as a "why bother?", but Clare knows a good percentage of her customers prefer the neutered brew. so when an old friend of her ex-husband develops the world's first botanically decaffeinated coffee bean and smuggles it into the country, Clare believes it's a business opportunity she needs to investigate ... at least until the first dead body shows up.

With casualties piling up and a complicated blend of old and new loves muddying the waters, it's up to Clare to find the murderer before one of her near and dears takes the fall. Otherwise, her latest addition to the menu will prove to be a real buzz killer ...

Title & Cover: Finally no legs with pointy shoes, instead lots of arms and pointy fingers. If it weren't for the fact that those hands creep me out, this cover would actually be ok.

Story: With the first murder victims only ever showing up in the second half, this book has a heavy emphasis on the coffee shop and its owners!

Narrative: Fast paced and with an extra portion of humor!

Characters: The Village Blend cast has room to shine in this one. Needless to say, they are growing on me with every book!

Thoughts: I must admit, this one is my fav of the series so far, probably because I love to see the development of the main characters who are confronted with murders directly related to the coffee shop. By the end of the series I'm probably switching from tea to coffee ... just imagine!

French Pressed (Cleo Coyle)

#6 Coffeehouse Mystery

paperback

Source: bought used

Genre: Mystery

Clare's daughter, Joy, is immersing herself in the foodie culture with an internship at Solange, one of New York's hottest French restaurants - and she's getting pretty intimate the older, married Chef Tommy Keitel as well. Clare's not buzzed about the relationship, but what twentysomething takes romantic advice from her mother?

Resolved to keep a closer eye on Joy, Clare makes a deal to micro-roast and French press exclusive coffee blends for Tommy, a man she wouldn't mind seeing roasted and pressed. The the competitive kitchen turns cutthroat, and joy's a suspect. To clear her daughter of the crime, Clare knows she must catch the real killer ... even if it lands her in the hottest water of her life.

Title & Cover: My thought is that the person responsible for those covers must be from Outer Space. I mean, seriously, those fingers!? And that nuked coffee makes me wonder too.

Story: With how many different coffee shop related murder scenarios can you come up? A lot it seems and Clare's daughter Joy is a suspect this time around.

Narrative: Like the last one, the pacing was perfect and that touch of humor luckily remained as well!

Characters: Let's make it official, even with a lousy mystery I adore that family!

Thoughts: Despite what I just said, the mystery wasn't bad at all, though for me the series certainly lives of its characters! And ohhh ... those recipes!

The Psychopath Test (Jon Ronson)

paperback

Source: Pan MacMillan

Genre: Non Fiction / Journalism / Psychology

Title & Cover: Cover designer on LSD!

Story: Everybody's mad ... or maybe not?

Narrative: Fun and self deprecating, and at the same time smart and serious!

Characters: A whole lot of madmen and Jon trying to find out just how crazy everyone (including himself) really is.

Thoughts: Before I started reading, and even throughout the first chapter, I thought it was riding solely on the humorous wave instead of taking a serious look at what psychopaths are made of. Luckily I got both - what a wild, mad ride!

FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW

Review - All The Money In The World (Laura Vanderkam)

2012-01-29T10:00:00.002+01:00

A contrarian guide to using your money to create the life you want.
In her last book, 168 Hours, Laura Vanderkam showed that when we really consider how we spend our time, it turns out we have more than we realize. Now she proves that the same is true for money. No matter how much we earn, there are smarter ways to apply every dollar toward the things that matter most.
For example, the average couple spends $5,000 on engagement and wedding rings, with little thought to resisting peer pressure. But what if they decide to spend $300 on rings and apply the rest to future date nights, weekend getaways, babysitters, and thinking-of-you bouquets? What would give more satisfaction in the long run?
Drawing on the true stories of individuals and families who've reached financial fulfillment, Vanderkam argues that perhaps money can buy happiness, if we spend it wisely.

Review

What would you do if you had all the money in the world - not literally, but all you wanted - what would you change about your life? Laura Vanderkam is contemplating getting, spending, and sharing money in her book All The Money In The World - the main premise being that you can buy happiness!

Sharing her own experiences and those of people who one day decided they'd rather spend their money on this instead of that, the book will not advise you on how to safe money, but instead encourage you to reconsider just how to spend it to make your life happier. Admittedly I liked the underlying idea from the start. If I had the choice I'd rather travel the world for the money a diamond ring would cost, and I'm sure my adventures would make me happier than that ring could.

Smoothly and quite entertainingly written the book luckily does not read as if it came straight from the self-help section of a bookstore. On the downside, there's also a lot of statistics and fluff which I ended up finding a bit distracting. Vanderkamp is often rambling on and already half way through I got the feeling that an essay would have been sufficient to communicate the essence of the whole book. Still, don't let this discourage you, because the intriguing idea presented here is definitely worth exploring!

In short: How would you spend money to take a step towards a happier life?

3/5 stars

Pajama Musings - Helping a Blogger Friend

2012-01-28T11:00:00.003+01:00

Imagine you lost all your books. You come home one day and all that's left of your book stacks is a pile of ashes. Now imagine you came home and it's not just your books, but everything you own that's reduced to ashes. A horrible thought, right?

Yara from Once Upon a Twilight is in this situation right now after her house was destroyed in a devastating house fire a week ago. I know a lot of you have probably already heard about this. To others it will be shocking news. The only good news is that thankfully neither she nor her family have been hurt, but the loss of their house and belongings is nonetheless tragic.

Twilight Mom initiated a fund into which you can donate via PayPal. If you want to help out, even just a few Dollars, this will be more than appreciated!

Lani Woodland from Lala Land is also helping out and has organized a giveaway for those who donated to Yara's fund!

Mundie Mom's are organizing a Book Drive to help replace the books for Yara, her two small sons, and husband!

Book 101 - The Library

2012-01-27T11:00:00.001+01:00

I've complained more than once about not having any decent library in my vicinity. Maybe I should simply move! To Washington DC or China, maybe St Petersburg or Ottawa. Why? Read on.

These are the ten largest libraries worldwide. Places you can literally get lost in, not just because you can get lost in all those wonderful books, but due to the fact that those places are huge.

Library of Congress
This library is known as one the biggest library in US, situated in Washington DC. It was founded in 1800. and stocks over 30 million books.

National Library of China
Situated in Beijing, the National Library of China was founded in 1909. This library stocks over 22 million books.

Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Located in the heart of St Petersburg this library stocks over 20 million books. It was founded in 1714.

National Library of Canada
This library is located in Ottawa, was built in 1953 and stocks over 18.8 million books.

German National Library
This library is located in Frankfurt. It was founded in 1990 and stocks over 18.5 million books.

The British Library
One of the oldest buildings in London, this library was built in 1753 and stocks over 16 million books.

Institute for Scientific Information Russian Academy of Sciences
The library was built in 1969 and it is situated in Moscow. It stocks over 13.5 million books.

Harvard University Library
Situated in Cambridge, founded in 1638, this library stocks over 13.1 million books.

Vernadsky National Scientific Library of Ukraine
Founded in 1919, this library is located in Kiev. It stocks over 13 million books.

The New York Public Library
This library is situated in New York City and it was built in 1895. It socks over 11 million books.

Now that would be some libraries I'd sure like to roam. I've visited the British Library on my last trip to London, and it was so worth it. As I was on vacation I didn't go there to get my hands on any reading material, but I headed straight for their exhibitions. So next time you go to London, this library is definitely a must-see!

Before I go, one for the road ... not, not booze, what are you thinking? Some library fun facts!

Picture Garden - Angel's Embrace

2012-01-26T11:00:00.001+01:00

ANGEL'S EMBRACE

Beyond the Shelf - Book Porn

2012-01-25T11:00:00.001+01:00

Last year I already introduced you to Bookshelf Porn and today we're taking the next step. Let me introduce you to Book Porn which is pretty much the same thing, minus the shelf. To describe what all this porn business is all about I shall let some of the wonderful pictures speak for themselves ... and if this turns you on, you're in good company *wink*.

Quote Garden - Just leave it to your imagination

2012-01-24T11:00:00.002+01:00

Stories of imagination tend to upset those without one.
Terry Pratchett

I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.
Albert Einstein

And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.
Sylvia Plath

You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.
Mark Twain

Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.
Stephen King

A Writer's Life - Connections

2012-01-23T11:00:00.003+01:00

What's the next best thing to having your name on the cover of a book? Being mentioned on the Acknowledgment page of a favorite author, of course!

But let's start at the beginning ...

Sometime back in early 2011 I connected with a certain author on LibraryThing. One of this books, or rather his only book, is one of my all time favorites and I had just added it to my virtual library. Next thing I know, there's a message by said author announcing that his next novel would be out soon. I was thrilled. After waiting over a decade, and checking for new books every once in a while, I had almost given up, but lo and behold, the patience paid off!

Needless to say, when the book came out I didn't even wait for the paperback edition, but ordered the hardcover straight away. This tells you a lot about my priorities. When the book finally sat in my mailbox I couldn't even start on it as two days later I've been on a plane to the UK. Obviously starting to read and then not being able to finish it until I return back home was not an option. Yet once I was back again it was the first book I grabbed.

Did it meet my expectations? Was it worth the wait? Yes ... though there were a few things that bugged me. More precisely, there were a lot of German expressions or short dialogues that would only look good if you're in your second semester studying German. Not being coy about it I wrote the author how much I enjoyed his novel, but I also mentioned the mistakes I came across. He profusely apologized, admitting that he was unfortunately aware of a few, uhm, glitches. Then *drumroll* he asked whether I'd assist with a few of the translations if need be. Of course I said yes, and a couple months later aka a week ago, an e-mail sat in my inbox asking for some input.

Do I really need to point out how exciting this all was? I mean, I was honored to help out, even though it was only a hand full of expressions I've been giving a scrutinizing look and red pen treatment. And then came the cherry on the cake. My name will be on the Acknowledgment page of the paperback edition *squee*. I guess, by the look of it, I will now have to get my hands on that edition too, hahaha! After my book buying ban is over, obviously.

Well, now that I got you all guessing I should reveal who on Earth I'm even talking about, right?

The author? Glenn Kleier

The novel? The Knowledge Of Good & Evil

And both will be featured here too when the paperback comes out in early spring. So in case you're as much into religious-themed thrillers (think Dan Brown) as yours truly, keep your eyes peeled for some exciting ventures into the realms of heaven and hell.

In My Mailbox - And they keep on coming

2012-01-22T14:10:00.004+01:00

I kinda feared my mailbox would loose the mailbox equivalent of a clothing size now that my book buying ban is in full swing, but nope - there were some nice treats to chew on after all!

Won

Homicide In Hardcover (Kate Carlisle)

from SOS Aloha

For Review

The Psychopath Test (Jon Ronson)

from Pan MacMillan

Hit Lit (James Hall)

from NetGalley

If Walls Could Talk (Lucy Worsley)

from NetGalley

Thanks to The Story Siren for hosting the IMM meme!

The Reading Files - A cup of tea for me

2012-01-22T14:00:00.010+01:00

This week I was in a mood for some mysteries. Not the kind of mysteries that involve finding strange things in the back of the fridge though. Those mysteries might keep you guessing, alright, but I'm referring to mysteries best enjoyed with a cup of tea and a cozy blanket. Open fire optional.

Death By Darjeeling (Laura Childs)

#1 A Tea Shop Mystery

paperback

Source: bought used

Genre: Mystery

Meet Theodosia Browning, owner of Charleston's beloved Indigo Tea Shop. Patrons love her blend of delicious tea tastings and Southern hospitality. And Theo enjoys the full-bodied flavor of a town steeped in hirtory - any mystery ...

It's tea for two hundred or so at the annual historic homes garden Party. And Theodosia, as event caterer, is busy serving steaming teas and blackberry scones while guests sing her praises. But the sweet smell of success turns to suspense when an esteemed guest is found dead - his hand clutching an empty teacup. All eyes are on Theo ... who is now trying desperately to save her reputation and track down the real killer. If only she can make sense of it all - before someone else takes their last sip ...

Title & Cover: All the greenery slays the actual scene ... I usually adore covers of mysteries, yet this one doesn't make it on my list of favorites.

Story: Man drops dead after drinking poisoned tea which makes the tea shop owner Theodosia venture out to find the killer. Nicely spruced up with lots of tea talk!

Narrative: There is something quaint in the writing style, though in parts it's also a bit cumbersome in its descriptions.

Characters: Theo is an ok female lead, though admittedly my favorites are Detective Tidwell, and Earl Grey, the dog.

Thoughts: As enjoyable as it was for me, this cozy mystery won't get your heart-rate up all that much. If you love light reads, soaking in the atmosphere of the setting, this one's for you. If this sounds too unexciting, and you're not into tea either, you might want to pass on this one.

Shades Of Earl Grey (Laura Childs)

#3 A Tea Shop Mystery

paperback

Source: bought used

Genre: Mystery

Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning is finally invited to a social event that she doesn't have to cater - but there's more than champagne bubbling ...

Theo is mingling with the cream of Charleston society at the engagement soiree of the season. But as they eagerly await the dazzling new young couple's arrival, the groom meets with a freak accident. The exquisite wedding ring - a family heirloom from the crown of Marie Antoinette - is mysteriously missing. Theodosia suspects that trouble is brewing. But when she goes to the authorities, they treat her like she's been reading tea leaves - and that's the surest way to put Theodosia's kettle on the boil ...

Title & Cover: Lovely cover and really fits the story too!

Story: A cat burglar is on the prowl leaving a corpse in its wake. Once again Theodosia sets out to find out whodunit. Obviously with lots of tea talk and a handful of recipes to boot!

Narrative: Again there's something wonderfully quaint, maybe even old-fashioned about the writing, though compared to the first in the series, this one is a whole lot more smoothly written.

Characters: Three books into the series and the characters are certainly a lot more well rounded. Needless to say, Tidwell is developing into my fav character!

Thoughts: Like the first book, wholesome like a good cup of tea!

Latte Trouble (Cleo Coyle)

#3 Coffeehouse Mystery

paperback

Source: bought used

Genre: Mystery

As manager of the historic Village Blend coffeehouse, Clare Cosi can steam a fantastically foamy cappuccino and press a perfect pot of Jamaica Blue Mountain. But suddenly she finds herself dealing with a mystery that's just too hot to handle ...

To Clare Cosi's surprise, this fall's hottest fashion trend is anything caffeinated - because designer Lottie Harmon, a loyal coffeehouse customer, has just created an ingenious collection of coffee-inspired fashion accessories. so naturally Lottie chooses the Village Blend as the perfect backdrop for fall Fashion Week insiders to view her new line of "Java Jewelry".

When barista Tucker unwittingly serves a poisonous latte to a prominent figure on the fashion scene, Clare suspects that the real target may have been Lottie. Now she must protect her thriving business from negative publicity, Lottie from any further danger, and Tucker from murder charges - even if it means jolting the fashion world with some shocking secrets ...

Title & Cover: What's with those legs and pointy shoes!? Can't help myself, it's a strange cover!

Story: A latte kills the wrong person and the person who was supposed to die isn't at all what she seems. Add a pretty twisted murder mystery!

Narrative: Very fresh and contemporary, especially compared to the previously read Tea Shop Mysteries.

Characters: Definitely an interesting cast with just the right chemistry!

Thoughts: I'm more of a tea person, alright, but the plot itself was pretty good for a mystery. Those who love a whole lot of coffee jargon will probably love the book just for that.

All The Money In The World (Laura Vanderkam)

eBook

Source: NetGalley

Genre: Non Fiction / Lifestyle / Finances

A contrarian guide to using your money to create the life you want.
In her last book, 168 Hours, Laura Vanderkam showed that when we really consider how we spend our time, it turns out we have more than we realize. Now she proves that the same is true for money. No matter how much we earn, there are smarter ways to apply every dollar toward the things that matter most.
For example, the average couple spends $5,000 on engagement and wedding rings, with little thought to resisting peer pressure. But what if they decide to spend $300 on rings and apply the rest to future date nights, weekend getaways, babysitters, and thinking-of-you bouquets? What would give more satisfaction in the long run?
Drawing on the true stories of individuals and families who've reached financial fulfillment, Vanderkam argues that perhaps money can buy happiness, if we spend it wisely.

Title & Cover: George Washington with a smile ... I would have thought that picking the president from the $100 bill would have been more fitting though!

Story: Contemplating getting, spending, and sharing the main premise is that you can buy happiness, though it's not necessarily things that make you happy.

Narrative: Smoothly and quite entertainingly written, yet there's also a lot of statistics and fluff which I found distracting.

Characters: Folks who one day decided they'd rather spend their money on this instead of that.

Thoughts: Admittedly I like the underlying idea, though to be perfectly honest, an essay would have been sufficient to communicate the essence of the whole book.

FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW

Pajama Musings - Let the nightmares begin!

2012-01-21T11:00:00.003+01:00

Let's make it official. I had my first book-buying-ban related nightmare early this week. There I was, sauntering through a flea market, books stacked high in my arms, and suddenly I realized that I'm not allowed to bring home this wonderful tantalizing haul. Frankly, I didn't expect any nightmares, or at least not so soon. After all I might have been splurging on books before the ban too, but not all that regularly. So while I've often went weeks without buying any books, at least I knew that if my basket was full enough for my taste I could click the BUY button any time. Now though I only have a wishlist I dare not look at, and three books from favorite authors which fortunately will only be out very close to the end of my ban. July 1st how I long for thee to arrive! Only 23 more weeks to go. And maybe this one dream was all of the side effects I'm going to experience from not buying any books *cough* yeah, right!

Anyone else crazy enough to go on a long book buying ban like I do? A full six month, that is. Anyone out there who already went through such a long ban and survived to tell the tale? Anyone ending up in the insane asylum, currently on leave, and willing to share their book-nutty thoughts? Feel free to comment away.

Book 101 - Fairy Tales

2012-01-20T11:00:00.001+01:00

Who hasn't read fairy tales when still a kid? Who doesn't like them still? And then, of course, there are fairy tale retellings, presenting those old stories in a whole new look. But let's start at the beginning by using those famous four words ... once upon a time!

A fairy tale is a short story that typically features folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. Despite its name, only a small number of the stories actually refer to fairies. I guess fairy tales just sounds better than troll tales or goblin tales. These days, the term fairy tale is also used for far-fetched stories or tall tales. Interesting to note: The German term "Märchen" literally translates as "tale" – not any specific type of tale.

In some cultures fairy tales merged into legends, where the narrative is perceived as being grounded in historical truth. Unlike legends they usually do not contain more than superficial references to religion and actual places, people, and events; they take place once upon a time rather than in actual times.

Fairy tales are found in oral and in literary form. The history of the fairy tale is difficult to trace yet there's evidence in literary works indicating that fairy tales have existed for thousands of years, although not recognized as a genre. The name "fairy tale" was first ascribed to them by Madame d'Aulnoy in the late 17th century. Many of today's fairy tales have evolved from centuries-old stories that have appeared, with variations, in multiple cultures around the world.

While fairy tales are seen as stories for children today, they were initially intended rather for an audience of adults, as the violence presented in many of the tales was not seen as suitable for children. Yet since the Brothers Grimm titled their collection Children's and Household Tales, the link with children has only grown stronger with time.

To me it seems that fairy tales are really for everyone. You can read them, you can watch them - Disney movies, anyone? - and if you want to get really creative you may even write them. Fairies optional.

Do you like fairy tales? If so, what are your favorites?

Picture Garden - Come Away With Me

2012-01-19T11:00:00.001+01:00

COME AWAY WITH ME

Dreaming of Books Hop Winner

2012-01-19T09:00:00.000+01:00

The lucky winner of the Dreaming of Books Hop is
Hanna @ Booking in Heels
who will soon rest her head on a throw pillow of her choice from CafePress!

E-mail is on the way and please get back to me within the next 48 hours!

Beyond the Shelf - A Blog Fest from Kiel to Kaitaia

2012-01-18T11:00:00.000+01:00

Last week I was approached by Dorothee, yet another German book blogger, whose blog life is a journey I happily added to my ever growing list of Austria and German Book Bloggers. She told me about the Blog Fest which is a collaborative web initiative in anticipation of the Frankfurt Bookfair in October, where New Zealand is the Guest of Honor. This Blog Fest is a celebration across geographic and temporal boundaries and an ongoing conversation - from Kiel to Kaitaia!

Frankfurt Bookfair 2012: An Aotearoa Affair highlights Kiwi and German writers in 2012, creating a space for interested readers and bloggers to connect and share related posts. If you are a Kiwi or German living anywhere in the world, or if you are from somewhere else but have settled in New Zealand or Germany, feel free to join and contribute. There will be a monthly Blog Carnival, a weekly countdown to the Bookfair, a feature author series and an interview series. In all of these, you’ll find an eclectic mix of writing and experience. You’ll find German, English and Maori. You’ll find published writers and writers just getting started. The aim is to cross boundaries through writing from various perspectives and languages, to stretch across landscapes and time zones, to share experiences both common and unique to these countries and the people living there.

About the Frankfurt Book Fair
The Frankfurt Book Fair is the biggest book and media fair in the world – with around 7,400 exhibitors from over 100 countries. The history of the Frankfurt Book Fair dates back to the 15th century, when Johannes Gutenberg first invented movable type – only a few kilometres down the road from Frankfurt.
In 2012, the Frankfurt Book Fair will take place from 10 to 14 October. The guest of honour is New Zealand. Previous guests of honour include Iceland (2011), Argentina (2010), China (2009), Turkey (2008) and many more, dating back to Latin America in 1976.

For more info, go HERE.

Quote Garden - Her majesty is one verb short of a sentence

2012-01-17T11:00:00.002+01:00

If the real world were a book, it would never find a publisher. Overlong, detailed to the point of distraction-and ultimately, without a major resolution.

Whereas story is processed in the mind in a straightforward manner, poetry bypasses rational thought and goes straight to the limbic system and lights it up like a brushfire. It's the crack cocaine of the literary world.

Books may look like nothing more than words on a page, but they are actually an infinitely complex imaginotransference technology that translates odd, inky squiggles into pictures inside your head.

After all, reading is arguably a far more creative and imaginative process than writing; when the reader creates emotion in their head, or the colors of the sky during the setting sun, or the smell of a warm summer's breeze on their face, they should reserve as much praise for themselves as the do for the writer - perhaps more.

I would so hate to be a first-person character! Always on your guard, always having people read your thoughts!

By Jasper Fforde

A Writer's Life - Writers on vacation

2012-01-16T11:00:00.001+01:00

Used with permission from Debbie Ridpath Ohi at Inkygirl.com

In My Mailbox - Look, I've won!

2012-01-15T14:10:00.002+01:00

I'm still waiting for a few books I've won in giveaways, and my mailbox got a nice chunk of bookish food again this week!

Won

A Season of Eden

Overprotected

Heavenly

(Jennifer Laurens)

from Me & Reading

Thanks to The Story Siren for hosting the IMM meme!

The Reading Files - The end is near

2012-01-15T14:00:00.015+01:00

Only two books this week. Don't look at me like that! One was a heavy tome. In fact, heavy enough to tone those upper arm and back muscles. Those of you who follow me on Facebook might have seen a status update earlier this week in which I'm contemplating how reading heavy books is also great workout for ... other parts of the female body. In short, holding such tomes may seriously avoid "droop" if you know what I mean!

The Passage (Justin Cronin)

paperback

Source: bought used

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic / Paranormal

First, the unthinkable: a security breach at a secret U.S. government facility unleashes the monstrous product of a chilling military experiment. Then, the unspeakable: a night of chaos and carnage gives way to sunrise on a nation, and ultimately a world, forever altered. All that remains for the stunned survivors is the long fight ahead and a future ruled by fear—of darkness, of death, of a fate far worse.
As civilization swiftly crumbles into a primal landscape of predators and prey, two people flee in search of sanctuary. FBI agent Brad Wolgast is a good man haunted by what he’s done in the line of duty. Six-year-old orphan Amy Harper Bellafonte is a refugee from the doomed scientific project that has triggered apocalypse. He is determined to protect her from the horror set loose by her captors. But for Amy, escaping the bloody fallout is only the beginning of a much longer odyssey—spanning miles and decades—towards the time and place where she must finish what should never have begun.
With The Passage, award-winning author Justin Cronin has written both a relentlessly suspenseful adventure and an epic chronicle of human endurance in the face of unprecedented catastrophe and unimaginable danger. Its inventive storytelling, masterful prose, and depth of human insight mark it as a crucial and transcendent work of modern fiction.

Title & Cover: I really really like that cover, though I could do without that red title bar - I know there are other cover versions out there, one similar to this one minus that red nuisance, but the one shown above is the edition I own!

Story: I thought this would be a dystopian novel. Virus breaking out. People dying. The works. Suddenly, vampires everywhere. Then things start getting really weird. And even weirder.

Narrative: In one word? Tedious. Long winded to a fault. The whole book is like a scrapyard of stories mended together with rubber bands. And for a book this size it's amazing how little is actually happening.

Characters: A lot of attention is given to present the state of mind and inner workings of pretty much any character. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but oddly enough it didn't help me connect with the characters either.

Thoughts: How often do editors tell authors to tighten up their manuscripts? Not often enough it seems. If this novel were only half as long (!) it wouldn't have made it onto my list of chunksters for the Tea & Books Reading Challenge, but the flow of the story might have improved a bit. Bottom line - this book simply didn't work for me. Bummer.

All I Know About Animal Behavior I Learned in Loehmann's Dressing Room (Erma Bombeck)

hardcover

Source: bought used

Genre: Humor

Erma has discovered that the odd habits of the animal kingdom are strikingly similar to our own, and she reports her downright hilarious findings in All I Know About Animal Behavior I Learned in Loehmann's Dressing Room. Erma shows how close animals in the wild and humans really are, and how much we can learn from one another. The hippopotamus is a vegetarian and looks like a wall. Lions who eat only red meat are sleek and slim. Are nutritionists on the wrong track? From the garter snake transvestite, to the barn swallow who can't make a commitment, to the lion who mates eighty-six times a day, Erma reveals that we're not all that far removed from the animal world.

Title & Cover: Cute!

Story: Spruced up with curious animal facts, Erma shows how much humans and animals actually have in common. In fact, more often than not, it's only the clothes that separate the two.

Narrative: Her observations and dialogues are, as always, spot on and laugh out loud funny!

Characters: Say hello to a wonderfully likable and oddly familiar family, including an Aunt who's renown for her fruitcake ... the kind you can use for construction work!

Thoughts: Perfect for a quick and enjoyable read! Once again, Erma does not disappoint!

Review - Dispatches From Bitter America (Todd Starnes)

2012-01-15T10:00:00.002+01:00

FOX News Radio reporter Todd Starnes is a self-professed “gun toting, chicken eating son of a Baptist” whose Dispatches from Bitter America is “a collection of stories from my travels across this country (and) conversations I’ve had with regular folks who have deep concerns about the direction we are going as a nation.”
In his award-winning, satire-meets-serious writing style, Starnes jumps headfirst into the current culture war, taking on the topics that are dear to every American: religion, health care, freedom, country music, barbeque, and so forth. Along the way, he shares exclusive interviews with political commentator Bill O’Reilly, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, cooking sensation Paula Deen, and pop singer Amy Grant, always hoping to go from bitter to better.

Review

Clinging to your guns and religion? Apparently this makes you a bitter American. In his book Dispatches From Bitter America journalist Todd Starnes contemplates what his country is made of. The five things he names certainly feed the stereotype many have of America - country music, guns, barbecue, the military, and freedom. One thing seems to be missing, but only on first glance - religion.

Expecting an honest view on America and its people I soon realized that these "dispatches" are basically a collection of a collective rage against the current government, and ultimately it is all about religion, or rather Christianity. America as a Christian nation? Not any longer. Today the emphasis is on being "a nation of citizens bound by ideals and a set of values".

I'm not bitter and too European, I guess, to relate to most of the presented "bitterness" though there were a few things that I do agree on, eg that it's not the governments business to tell parents what to feed their children. Yet what disturbed me are the very randomly chosen examples and occurrences that were all too often facticiously exaggerated, generously saturated with sarcasm, and drenched in fear. Satire? Not quite. Serious writing? Not really. I realize a lot of Americans will relate to the content of his book, sometimes rightly so, but the overall presentation left a lot to be desired.

In short: More on the conservative side? You'll love this book. Liberal? Read at your own risk.

2/5 stars

Pajama Musings - Let's take a walk, shall we?

2012-01-14T11:00:00.005+01:00

So there I was, contemplating how to make the most out of every minute of the day, especially those dreadful times you need to get from A to B aka from a warm and cozy bed to the cold dark places of modern slavery, when I had an epiphany. Alright, maybe not an epiphany of the celestial kind, but close enough.

There she was. A girl walking towards me on the sidewalk, holding a book in her hands, reading. Granted, there haven't been all that many people around so chances that she might bump into someone were slim. I couldn't help but stop and stare. This girl is my hero. Seriously! How come I never thought of this before? I mean I've never been able to read on the train to work, trust me I tried, but the usual result was that I felt sea sick and that feeling wouldn't leave until late afternoon. On second thought maybe the train-induced sickness was replaced by common office-job sickness around noon, but I digress.

The point is, I walk a lot. As long as I don't need to drag home several big grocery bags I see no need to get out the wheels. Plus, walking makes for great photo opportunities too. Try that while driving and the next photo will involve a black frame and crying parents. Anyway. I never seriously gave the idea of maybe reading while walking much attention, but this has now changed. I don't care whether people will cast me strange looks (I wouldn't notice anyway with my nose stuck between the pages of a book) and while I might have to invest in knee guards (because, let's face it, I'm bound to run into something or someone eventually) this is such a genius idea that I simply need to try it out myself.

I once heard that if you read while you walk you can read a book in about 43 kilometers. That is unless you get hit by a truck first. So assuming I won't get hit by anything or fall over a ledge I will keep you updated on my 43 kilometer read-athon. Here's to exercising the brain and those leg muscles at the same time!

Book 101 - Young Adult

2012-01-13T11:00:00.002+01:00

First, let me establish a fact that many seem to ignore these days - Young Adult is not a genre!

I have no clue who came up with this, and I'm sure you've seen it several times before, that YA is referred to as a genre. Well, it's not!

Young Adult fiction, often abbreviated as YA, is fiction written for, published for, or marketed to adolescents and young adults, roughly ages 14 to 21. The exact age group certainly isn't set in stone as YA is sometimes defined as "between the ages of 12 and 18", "texts written for the ages of 12 and up" or "literature written for ages ranging from 10 years up to the age of 20". Another suggestion for the definition is that Young Adult literature is any text being read by adolescents, though this definition is somewhat controversial especially considering the fact that many adults will read books that are viewed as YA as well. But maybe this just gives new meaning to being young at heart!

Although YA literature shares the fundamental elements of character, plot, setting, theme, and style common to adult fiction, theme and style may be subordinated to the more tangible basic narrative elements such as plot, setting, and character. The vast majority of YA stories portray an adolescent as the protagonist, rather than an adult or a child. Themes in YA stories often focus on the challenges of youth, so much so that the entire age category is sometimes referred to as problem novels or coming of age novels. The subject matter and story lines are typically consistent with the age and experience of the main character, but beyond that YA stories span the entire spectrum of fiction genres, from contemporary straight to science fiction. Writing styles of YA stories also range widely, from the richness of literary style to the clarity and speed of the plain and unobtrusive.

YA isn't a new phenomenon, instead a classification that only received its name in the past decades. Examples of novels that predate this classification, but that are now frequently presented alongside YA novels, are Anne of Green Gables (Lucy Maud Montgomery) or Lord of the Flies (William Golding).

And to get back to the beginning, let me repeat that Young Adult is not a genre! I cannot stress this enough! It is ... wait for it ... a category defined by the reading age/level! Fantasy is a genre. Horror is a genre. A whole lot of things are a genre, but YA isn't one of them. 'nuff said.

Dreaming of Books Hop

2012-01-13T06:00:00.006+01:00

Welcome to the

Dreaming of Books Hop
(January 13th - January 18th)
hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf

And now …
… curious about what you can win?

Once again I'm getting a bit more creative than simple giving away a book. Seeing how this Hop is dedicated to dreaming what could be more appropriate than a pillow on which you can rest your head while reading (or sleeping, for that matter). Long story short - I'm giving away your choice of any bookish Throw Pillow worth $ 20,00 from CafePress. These pillows measure 18'' x 18'' and are made of ultra-soft brushed twill with a sturdy canvas image area.

Please note: I am in no way affiliated with Cafepress, I just happen to like the stuff they sell. Also, I will have the prize shipped to the winner directly through Cafepress to save on additional shipping costs.

All you have to do is answer the following question and leave your e-mail address with your comment so I may contact you in case you're the winner.

The question:
What kind of books keep you up at night?

Rules

Following my blog is no requirement, but greatly appreciated.
One entry per person.
Open worldwide.

Winner

One winner will be picked through random.org on January 19th and will then be contacted by e-mail as well as announced here on my blog. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and if he/she fails to do so I will draw a new winner.

And now, head on over to the rest of the blog hop participants!

Picture Garden - Straightening Her Dress

2012-01-12T11:00:00.002+01:00

STRAIGHTENING HER DRESS

Beyond the Shelf - Bibliomania

2012-01-11T11:00:00.007+01:00

Most of you already know Project Gutenberg where you can download tons of classics to your eReader of choice. But there are similar websites out there and one of them is Bibliomania.

The site offers free online literature with more than 2,000 classic texts along with literature book notes, author biographies, book sumeries and reference books. You can read the world's greatest fiction by authors such as Dickens and Joyce, Sherlock Holmes mysteries, all of Shakespeare's plays, or just dip into some short stories by writers such as Mark Twain, Anton Chekov and Edgar Allan Poe. This along with articles, interviews, and study guides to many of the books certainly separates what the formerly mentioned Project Gutenberg has to offer. Basically you can read, study and research on the site. Especially the latter is noteworthy with its sections on reference, biographies, non-fiction, and religious texts.

Before you get overly excited you should know that currently the site is not being actively maintained. Bibliomania.com Ltd no longer has any employees but the ex-employees keep the site running and have hopes of re-launching the site should funds become available. Still, there is plenty to read and learn here and maybe the site will be active again one day.

Quote Garden - Rides a black and white horse

2012-01-10T11:00:00.002+01:00

I am a book.

Sheaves pressed from the pulp of oaks and pines
a natural sawdust made dingy from purses, dusty
from shelves.
Steamy and anxious, abused and misused,
kissed and cried over,
smeared, yellowed, and torn,
loved, hated, scorned.

I am a book.

I am a book that remembers,
days when I stood proud in good company
When the children came, I leapt into their arms,
when the women came, they cradled me against their soft breasts,
when the men came, they held me like a lover,
and I smelled the sweet smell of cigars and brandy as we sat together in leather chairs,
next to pool tables, on porch swings, in rocking chairs,
my words hanging in the air like bright gems, dangling,
then forgotten, I crumbled,
dust to dust.

I am a tale of woe and secrets,
a book brand-new, sprung from the loins of ancient fathers clothed in tweed,
born of mothers in lands of heather and coal soot.
A family too close to see the blood on its hands,
too dear to suffering, to poison, to cold steel and revenge,
deaf to the screams of mortal wounding,
amused at decay and torment,
a family bred in the dankest swamp of human desires.

I am a tale of woe and secrets,
I am a mystery.

I am intrigue, anxiety, fear,
I tangle in the night with madmen, spend my days cloaked in black,
hiding from myself, from dark angels,
from the evil that lurks within
and the evil we cannot lurk without.

I am words of adventure,
of faraway places where no one knows my tongue,
of curious cultures in small, back alleys, mean streets,
the crumbling house in each of us.

I am primordial fear, the great unknown,
I am life everlasting.
I touch you and you shiver, I blow in your ear and you follow me,
down foggy lanes, into places you've never seen,
to see things no one should see,
to be someone you could only hope to be.

I ride the winds of imagination on a black-and-white horse,
to find the truth inside of me, to cure the ills inside of you,
to take one passenger at a time over that tall mountain,
across that lonely plain to a place you've never been
where the world stops for just one minute
and everything is right.

I am a mystery.

Rides a Black and White Horse (Lise McClendon)

A Writer's Life - Everything's gonna be alright

2012-01-09T11:00:00.008+01:00

I hope my lovely red-pen wielding editor in charge is reading this. What am I saying? I'm going to send her the link straight away and give her something to worry about at the start of yet another dreary work week. Fear not, my dear Amy, everything's gonna be alright!

In fact that's, appropriately enough, the title of one of the short stories I just finished. For the curious and unaware of my current writerly (does that word even exist?) mission - I am in the middle of intricately plotting my first short story collection. And, indeed, the first story I put onto paper has been adorned with this catchy Bob Marley song title.

As much time I usually invest in finding names for characters, titles come to me naturally. When ideas approach me, they are already equipped with a sign that spells out their name. This is pretty helpful especially seeing how some writers never seem to get a hang of finding the perfect title for their work. Working title? Nah. Not for me, anyway. I might refer to them that way, but in almost all cases I stick to the initial title. I would probably kill if someone suggested that I change a title. Hmmm ... I think I can feel yet another sweet little idea approaching, an idea that's begging to be included in this collection!

Anyway, to those of you who missed my post about the projects I plan to tackle this year, this short story collection will be titled down below and in between and nope, I didn't overlook that there might be the need to throw in some capital letters, it's all written in small letters on purpose. Why? I'm quirky, and I seeing how this is my baby I can pretty much do this which ever way I want. That's why!

Now you might wonder, what kind of short stories? So many genres, so many possibilities. Let's just say that liking the Twilight Zone* will help you appreciate my stories. I know poor Amy is already worried over the possibility of having to edit horror stories, but I'm not chopping off body parts by the dozen, I swear. It's all about subtlety. Besides, horror has many faces. My stories will sneak up on you, quite innocently, and when you least expect it ... you won't know what hit you, ha. But what hits you won't be body parts, like I said, but twists and turns and surprises. Seeing how editing itself is sheer horror to me I wouldn't want Amy to fight off blood thirsty zombies. Then again ... I never thought I'd find back to the realms of the horror genre ... ah, ignore me, Amy, I'm just rambling *cough*.

Apropos short stories. Apropos Twilight Zone. Yay or nay?

* The Twilight Zone is an American television anthology series created by Rod Serling. Each episode is a mixture of self-contained drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science fiction, suspense, or horror, often concluding with a macabre or unexpected twist.

In My Mailbox - The week of last book orders

2012-01-08T14:10:00.004+01:00

Yes, I'm on a book buying ban! No, I didn't manage to kick my resolution to the curb so quickly!

The thing is that I sent out some last minute orders at the end of December, and they only arrived now. That said, I present to you my last self-bought book haul for the next, well, six months! Plus one wonderful gift thrown in with the mix!

Gifted

Enclave (Ann Aguirre)

from my Secret Santa

Bought

Limit (Franz Schätzing)

from Weltbild

Bought

The Summoning (Kelley Armstrong)

Lifegame (Alison Allen-Gray)

The Devouring (Simon Holt)

The Knife Of Never Letting Go (Patrick Ness)

Furnace: Lockdown (Alexander Gordon Smith)

Everlost (Neil Shusterman)

from AwesomeBooks

Thanks to The Story Siren for hosting the IMM meme!

The Reading Files - Come away with me

2012-01-08T14:00:00.013+01:00

I started into the new year with zombies chasing me ... alright, maybe not real zombies, and I haven't been running much either, yet I've managed to read five books within five days, so it seems like the book fairies put a spell on me! Oddly enough I haven't been reading any horror/fantasy/paranormal stuff which might explain why I mention both zombies and fairies in this intro.

Anyway, after Day Five I went on a short reading hiatus, spending two days typing away as if a hoard of ... so I spent those days writing instead of reading. Got a head start with my reading anyway, and no one died of spending their days writing only. Of course it would put an interesting perspective to this blog post if yours truly was poltergeisting around on the keyboard. Long story short - here's what I read this week!

A Week At The Airport (Alain De Botton)

paperback
Source: bought used

Genre: Non Fiction / Travel / Philosophy

In the summer of 2009, Alain de Botton will be invited by the owners of Heathrow airport to become their first ever Writer in Residence. He will be installed in the middle of Terminal 5 on a raised platform with a laptop connected to screens, enabling passengers to see what he is writing and to come and share their stories. He will meet travellers from around the world, and will be given unprecedented access to wander the airport and speak with everyone from window cleaners and baggage handlers to air traffic controllers and cabin crew. Working with the renowned documentary photographer Richard Baker, de Botton will produce an extraordinary meditation upon the nature of place, time, and our daily lives. He will explore the magical and the mundane, personal and collective experiences and the interactions of travellers and workers all over this familiar but mysterious site. Like all airports, Heathrow (the 15th century village of Heath Row lies beneath the short stay car park) is a 'non-place' that we by definition want to leave, but it also provides a window into many worlds - through the thousands of people it dispatches every day. "A Week at the Airport" is sure to delight de Botton's large following, and anyone interested in the stories behind the way we live.

Title & Cover: *stifling a yawn*

Story: An impressionistic and philosophical contemplation on the nature of travel!

Narrative: Wonderful and unexpected! As delicious as a rich chocolate cake!

Characters: The author shares his literary - sometimes serious, often amusing, always dramatic - view on the individuals he meets.

Thoughts: I never liked airports. Especially Heathrow! Now I've come to the understanding that actually it's the flights that I detest. People watching at the airport? Count me in!

Checkout (Anna Sam)

paperback
Source: bought used

Genre: Non Fiction / Memoir / Humor

Can you scan 800 barcodes an hour? Can you smile and say thanks 500 times a day? Do you never need to go to the toilet? Then working at a supermarket checkout could be just the job for you. Anna Sam spent 8 years as a checkout girl. Checkout - A Life on the Tills is a witty look at what it s really like to work in a supermarket: the relentless grind and less-than-perfect working conditions, along with people-watching and encounters with every kind of customer from the bizarre to the downright rude. Sam's story has won her fans all over Europe, turning Checkout A Life on the Tills into a huge international bestseller, published in 10 languages.

Title & Cover: Like a 5 year old's art class project. I've seen worse though!

Story: Checkout girl shares it all - from annoying buyers to malfunctioning conveyor belts. Nice (or pathetic?) touch how she mentioned on the last page that now her book would be sold in supermarkets too.

Narrative: Pretty much fits the cover!

Characters: I'm sure the folks she met sitting at that till were quite, uhm, colorful ... not as though she really brought that point across.

Thoughts: A very light read, and that's putting it mildly! If you want a really hilarious and well written book on the topic, go for Retail Hell (Freeman Hall) or Malled (Kelly Caitlin).

The Secret Shopper's Revenge (Kate Harrison)

#1 Secret Shopper Series

paperback
Source: bought used

Genre: Chick-lit

New mum Emily wants revenge on the stick-thin assistants who laugh at her post-baby tummy and post-baby budget. But frumpiness has its advantages when you're wielding a secret camera - and sending the damning footage straight to head office. Store manager Sandie has a lifelong love of the world of retail - the glitz, the glamour, the stockroom. Then she's fitted up by an ambitious assistant and secret shopping is the only way to keep her one passion alive. Glamorous widow Grazia can't leave behind the high life, despite her chronically low bank balance. The more she's buying - and spying - the less time she has to mourn her husband or her fair-weather friends who've dumped her. They're Charlie's Shopping Angels, controlled by a mysterious figure who sends them assignments. But when they're sent to stitch up a doomed shop owned by Will, the angels begin to feel divided loyalties . . .

Title & Cover: I kinda like that pink glittery ribbon thingy, but the dotted blue background? Yikes!

Story: Three women, each with their own struggles, find themselves as Charlie's Shopping Angels, and soon enough, as friends too.

Narrative: The story is being told from three angles/POVs which works well in bringing out the individual characters.

Characters: They're all as different as they get, my favorite being down-to-Earth Sandie. The chemistry in their friendship is ok, but I've read better.

Thoughts: A light and fun read! Certainly not all that deep, but definitely entertaining!

The Secret Shopper Unwrapped (Kate Harrison)

#2 Secret Shopper Series

paperback
Source: bought used

Genre: Chick-lit

Christmas is coming, and while the bells are ringing, the tills aren't. But Sandie - the rising star of the retail spying world - is busier than ever, rooting out the best and worst in festive customer care through her company. The former Charlie's Shopping Angels are helping out, too. Glamorous widow Grazia is going undercover under the duvet at boutique hotels, in between dating a succession of toyboys and trying to remember which lie she's told about her age. Meanwhile, not-quite-yummy mummy Emily investigates the child-friendliness of the high street with the help of three-year-old Freddie, when she's not working flat out with her partner to save their fledging village shop from the un-festive credit crunch. The shoppers are back, but is the happiness they've worked so hard for, about to disappear faster than a Louis Vuitton handbag in the Harrod's sale?

Title & Cover: Now that cover's more like it (especially compared to the one of the first book in the series) - simple yet wonderfully Christmassy!

Story: The three secret shoppers are back, this time though a fourth girl is thrown into the mix as well. And Charlie's back with a vengeance!

Narrative: Instead of three POVs there are now four in this second book in the series, which is a tad too much for my taste, but oh well!

Characters: There is more of an emphasis on Sandie and the new girl Kelly. Admittedly that was alright by me seeing how Sandie turned out to be my fav character already in the first book.

Thoughts: It's good as far as sequels go, yet I would have wished for more secret shopping and less "personal problems", but that's just me.

Dispatches From Bitter America (Todd Starnes)

eBook

Source: NetGalley

Genre: Non Fiction / Journalism / Politics

Title & Cover: That must be the best about the book! No joking!

Story: Mr Starnes and a whole lot of other "bitter Americans" against pretty much everything that's going on in the government courtesy to the 44th President of the USA.

Narrative: He's being described as a mix of Paul Harvey, Lewis Grizzard and Erma Bombeck. I love Erma! And this comparison really hurts.

Characters: Americans. Bitter ones. With guns. You get the idea.

Thoughts: Honestly? After reading the book and checking out Todd Starnes' Facebook page I wasn't surprised he "likes" Sarah Palin. Let's just say, if you like Sarah Palin, you'll like that book too! What am I saying? You'll probably put this book next to your Bible!!

FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW

Today I'll get started on my next book, a chunkster for my Tea & Books Reading Challenge. Seeing how many pages I read in total this week, I should be able to plow through The Passage (Justin Cronin) by the end of next week. May the book fairies be with me and the zombies keeping me on my toes as well! With heavy tomes you need to take any help you can get, right?

2 by 2 Giveaway Winner

2012-01-08T09:00:00.002+01:00

The lucky winner of the January 2 by 2 Giveaway is
Phanee @ funny wool
who picked the book The Stepford Wives!

E-mail is on the way and please get back to me within the next 48 hours!

Pajama Musings - Books have many uses

2012-01-07T11:00:00.000+01:00

Books aren't just for reading. Obviously this is the reason of their existence, but still they can provide you with more than just food for thought.

Let's stick to something more, well, traditional ... a bookcase made from books!

Or how about a place to sit when reading a good book? Not as though it looks all that comfy ...

And when the sun has set and that book is just too gripping to be put away, why not turn out the light with this wonderful lamp? I seriously want that thing!

And, finally, there's this one? More than worthy of being presented in The Book Garden!

Books 101 - Romance

2012-01-06T11:00:00.002+01:00

As is the case with a lot of novels, genres have a tendency to mingle with each other, and you can rarely assign just one specific genre to a certain book. While for some folks a romance novel is, well, just a romance novel, there is actually much more to it that first meets the eye and heart.

What the all have in common are two basic elements. First, quite obviously, we have a central love story. After all, what would a romance novel be without two individuals falling in love, and their inevitable struggle to make the relationship work. And secondly, there needs to be a preferably emotionally-satisfying and optimistic ending. All the struggling simply has to have a happy ending or no one would continue reading such novels except for hopeless pessimists.

Generally romance novels may have any tone or style, be set in any place or time, and have varying levels of sensuality that can range from sweet to extremely hot. It's these settings and distinctions of plot which creates specific subgenres within romance fiction. So yes, a romance novel loves to get intimate *wink* with other genres.

Contemporary Romance

Contemporary romance novels - the largest sub-genre - are set in the time when they are written, and usually reflect the mores of that time.

Historical Romance

Historical romance is set before World War II. This subgenre includes a wide variety of other subgenres, including Regency Romance.

Romantic Suspense

Romance novels in which suspense, mystery, or thriller elements constitute an integral part of the plot.

Paranormal Romance

Romance novels in which the future, a fantasy world, or paranormal happenings are an integral part of the plot.

Science Fiction Romance

A science fiction romance is a romance novel that takes place in a story that would otherwise be classified as a science fiction story.

Fantasy Romance

Also known as Romantic Fantasy, this is a subgenre of fantasy fiction, describing a fantasy story using many of the elements and conventions of the romance genre.

Inspirational romance

Romance novels in which religious or spiritual beliefs (in the context of any religion or spiritual belief system) are a major part of the romantic relationship.

Multicultural Romance

Multicultural romance typically features a hero and/or heroine who is African-American, although some multicultural lines also include Asian or Hispanic heroes or heroines or interracial relationships.

Erotic Romance

Erotic romance is a blend of romance and erotica. These novels also usually include more sex scenes, often focusing more on the sex act rather than being a more traditional love scene.

Young Adult Romance
Novels with a strong romantic theme geared toward young adult readers.

You could say, romance can be found in pretty much any genre, and you just have to pick the ones that suit your reading taste the best.

Do you like to read romance novels? Feel free to share your romantic guilty pleasure reads with me!

2 by 2 Giveaway

2012-01-05T16:00:00.002+01:00

Welcome to the January edition of the all new 2 by 2 Giveaway on my blog!

This month is dedicated to books gone movies, in fact, the kind of classic movies were you probably had no idea they are even based on books!

Planet Of The Apes (Pierre Boulle)

The Stepford Wives (Ira Levin)

Once this post goes live you have two days (48 hours) to enter by telling me which of the two books you'd like to win and don't forget to leave your e-mail address so I may contact you in case you're the winner.

Please note: This giveaway is open worldwide, but only for countries TBD offers free shipping to - please check here.

Rules

Following my blog is no requirement, but greatly appreciated.
One entry per person.
Open worldwide.

Winner

One winner will be picked through random.org on January 8th and will then be contacted by e-mail as well as announced here on my blog. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and if he/she fails to do so I will draw a new winner.

Picture Garden - The Fire Within

2012-01-05T11:00:00.002+01:00

THE FIRE WITHIN

Beyond the Shelf - Based on the book

2012-01-04T11:00:00.005+01:00

You can say what you want, but in my book (so to say) a book that's being adapted to a movie is just a bad idea. Most of the time anyway. Of course there are some good movies which are based on books out there, yet in the end I'd rather read than watch. Alright, maybe I will give in and go see The Hunger Games this year anyway.

If you are interested in a list of books that made it to the big, or at least TV screen, you should check out Based on the book on the Mid-Continent Public Library. Here you find a compilation of over 1,250 books, novels, short stories, and plays that have been made into motion pictures. Utilizing the Internet Movie Database as the authority, all movies in this collection have been released as feature-length films in the United States, in English, since 1980. You can search by title, author, and release date.

Let's have a look now on one of my fav authors and the horrible movie adaptations that have been made out of his books - Dean Koontz. I could have sworn that Intensity was made into a movie as well, hmmm ... well, maybe this list isn't as complete as I've been hoping, though linking it to IMDB is definitely a good start. Oddly enough the movie Intensity is in the movie database, so my guess is that either I've stumbled over a movie that has simply been overlooked or the list isn't as accurate as it should be.
Either way, the compliation is definitely a good start and so far the best books-gone-movies list I've personally come across. In case you know about similar websites, feel free to share!

Oh and for those wondering about the book cover - yep, that's Dr. Cox, uhm, John C. McGinley, and he's playing a very bad guy here indeed!

Quote Garden - A World of Books

2012-01-03T11:00:00.004+01:00

The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame.
Oscard Wilde

There are only two worlds - your world, which is the real world, and other worlds, the fantasy. Worlds like this are worlds of the human imagination: their reality, or lack of reality, is not important. What is important is that they are there. these worlds provide an alternative. Provide an escape. Provide a threat. Provide a dream, and power; provide refuge, and pain. They give your world meaning. They do not exist; and thus they are all that matters.
Neil Gaiman

All the secrets of the world are contained in books. Read at your own risk.
Lemony Snicket

Reading a book is like re-writing it for yourself. You bring to a novel, anything you read, all your experience of the world. You bring your history and you read it in your own terms.
Angela Carter

There's a world that we know nothing about, that we can only imagine. And that is the world of books.
Jack Handey

A Writer's Life - The secret language of writers

2012-01-02T11:00:00.004+01:00

Words can have many different meanings besides what some consider as the obvious. Yet nothing is obvious in the world of writing. So let me introduce you to some new perspective on those neat little things writers like to play with. Words.

Feedback doesn't mean you're holding the microphone wrong, but can be just as painful.

Dialogue is the manifestation of all the voices jabbering in your head.

A Galley isn't a place to eat on the high seas, but proof you actually sold a book.

A Hook has nothing to do with fishing, and everything to do with sleep deprivation.

A Style Guide is not a measure of how good you look, but how much you don't know.

A Muse is not one word.

Plot isn't where the body is buried, but how they died.

Twist is not an old fashioned dance, but it can still make you dizzy.

Tone has nothing, and everything, to do with your voice.

Pacing isn't a nervous habit.

Script isn't what Aunt Sally gets filled at the pharmacy, but your blood, sweat, and tears.

Narrative gives you nightmares about William Shatner.

Outline is not evidence of what kind of underwear you're wearing.

A Partial might actually help you earn the money to pay your dental bill.

Viewpoint has little to do with what you think, but rather, which head you're in.

Setting has absolutely nothing to do with how many you expect for dinner.

Voice is something you have to discover - no matter how long you've been able to speak.

Blocks are not the foundation of a fifty story building.

Copyright belongs to the unknown originator(s) of the list

Tea & Books Reading Challenge

2012-01-01T15:10:00.002+01:00

A warm welcome to everyone who's signed up for the Tea & Books Reading Challenge! I was pleasantly surprised to see just how many of you love the wonderful combination of tea and books. While most will be nipping some Chamomile Tea while plowing through some heavy tomes, we have a handful of folks who'd rather sip Berry Tea or Earl Grey, and *drumroll please* we also have a few daring readers who're aiming for the Sencha! I'm impressed, I really am.

Here's the list of participants so far (and yes, you may still sign up if you want to):

Birgit / The Book Garden / Earl Grey Aficionado

Ally / Snow Feathers / Chamomile Lover

Debbie / Exurbanis / Chamomile Lover

Risa / Breadcrumb Reads / Berry Tea Devotee

Amy Rea / New Century Reading / Berry Tea Devotee

Jessie / Jessie's Book Place / Chamomile Lover

Grace / Books Without Any Pictures / Early Grey Aficionado

San / blue paper cranes / Chamomile Lover

Fiona / The Book Coop / Sencha Connoisseur

L.S. Engler / L.S. Engler / Sencha Connoisseur

Vasilly / 1330V / Chamomile Lover

Psique / Book Travels / Chamomile Lover

Geoff / The Oddness of Moving Things / Earl Grey Aficionado

Prangon / Smutty Dirty Bitch / Chamomile Lover

JoV / Bibliojunkie / Chamomile Lover

snoelr / Anecdotal Musings / Chamomile Lover

Sandra / Fresh Ink Books / Chamomile Lover

Jane / Fleur Fisher in her world / Berry Tea Devotee

Rubina / Be my knife / Chamomile Lover

B.C. / Book Snob Wannabe / Chamomile Lover

Robin / My Two Blessings / Earl Grey Aficionado

digitalangel3 / Chamomile Lover

Alicia / Room To Read / Chamomile Lover

Her Royal Orangeness / Only Orangery / Chamomile Lover

Margaret / Books Please / Earl Grey Aficionado

TBM / 50 Year Project / Berry Tea Devotee

Chris / The Book Trunk / Berry Tea Devotee

Cathy / Cathy's Book Reviews / Chamomile Lover

Jenn / Simply ... Challenging / Chamomile Lover

Cath / read_warbler / Berry Tea Devotee

Deseree / Dusky Literati / Sencha Connoisseur

Melissa / Jayne's Books / Berry Tea Devotee

Regina / Chamomile Lover

Akilha / The Englishist / Chamomile Lover

Sissy / Cryptographic Romance / Chamomile Lover

Agata / The One Who Reads / Chamomile Lover

LeAnn / Chamomile Lover

Laurie / In Laurie's Mind / Chamomile Lover

Nancy / Silver Threads / Chamomile Lover

Melwyk / Indextrious Reader / Berry Tea Devotee

Lindsey / Musings of A Frustrated Lady Writer / Chamomile Lover
Daisy Chain / Chocolate-Covered Books / Chamomile Lover
Amanda R. / Fig and Thistle / Chamomile Lover
Meaghan / A Cineaste's Bookshelf / Chamomile Lover
Chantel / Books, Books & Books / Berry Tea Devotee

Alberta / Alberta Reads / Berry Tea Devotee

Ted / Bookeywookey / Berry Tea Devotee

Carolina / Eclectic Book Readings / Berry Tea Devotee

Amanda / the one woman book club / Sencha Connoisseur

Eva / A Striped Armchair / Berry Tea Devotee

Rose City Reader / Rose City Reader / Berry Tea Devotee

Kah Woei / The Books of My Life / Earl Grey Aficionado

Honorary Reader: Silver Thistle

As the list is rather long, and despite checking it twice, I cannot rule out that I might have overlooked someone. In case I did, please accept my apologies and let me know so I can add you! And those of you who marvel at the Honorary Reader, well, re-reads are not allowed for the challenge, but Silver Thistle will still be reading along with some Diana Gabaldon! That's dedication! And it's much appreciated!!

Apropos re-reads. I realize (and I heard some participants voice this) that not everyone agrees on re-reads not being allowed. Well, my challenge, my rules! Ha. But seriously - the main point of this challenge is to dust off the chunksters on our shelves and finally read them! If you generally love to read heavy tomes you're obviously also very welcome to this challenge, but you'll need some new books on your bedside table for it. Look at the bright side - you will surely find some inspiration when others share what they plan to read!

Another little reminder - no omnibus editions, short story collections, or audio books, yet you may pick both fiction and non fiction! One or two of you asked about audio books, and well, it's a reading and not a listening challenge.

I've also been asked about books that have almost, but not quite, 700 pages. Let's put it like that - if you've got one book with 680 pages and another with 820 then you may read both for the challenge. These "shorter" books (which have to be very close to 700 pages as I'd like to point out) should be more the exception than the rule though!

Alright then ... having a whole year ahead of us, and depending on the level you picked, you'll need to make your choice on which tomes you want to read rather sooner than later. Especially if you're aiming for one of the higher levels.

As a little reminder - Chamomile Lovers have to read 2 books, Berry Tea Devotees 4 books, Earl Grey Aficionados 6 books, and finally, Sencha Connoisseurs 8 or more books. And remember, you may always upgrade to the next level!

I'm going for Earl Grey Aficionado and my books for this challenge are:

The Passage (Justin Cronin) 964 pages

Under the Dome (Stephen King) 878 pages

I haven't quite made up my mind about the rest yet, but candidates are the following books:

Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber and Voyager (Diana Gabaldon)

Eine Billion Dollar and Ausgebrannt (Andreas Eschbach)

Der Schwarm and Lautlos (Frank Schätzing)

All of these are either German translation or German Originals, so in case you've been wondering whether other languages are allowed in this challenge - the answer is yes!

With six books on my plate I will have to read at least one within two months. Should be doable. I'm usually not a person who'll read several books at once, so the idea of being "stuck" with one book for more than a week is a bit scary, but maybe I'm going to take a break, read something else in between, and then continue.

How about you? Have you already decided on which books to read? Do you have an action plan on how to tackle your books? Let me know!

Dean Koontz Reading Challenge

2012-01-01T15:00:00.002+01:00

A warm welcome to everyone who's signed up for the Dean Koontz Reading Challenge! As is evident from the sign-up there are a whole lot of you who want to deliver Odd Thomas' mail, a selected few are moving in as next door neighbors, and one confessed to be a stalker, oh my!

Here's the list of participants so far (and yes, you may still sign up if you want to):

Birgit / The Book Garden / Odd Thomas' Neighbor

Suey / It's All About Books / Odd Thomas' Mailman
Erin / Paperback Stash / Odd Thomas' Neighbor
Gina / Book Dragon's Lair / Odd Thomas' Mailman
Jeff / Dean Koontz Info / Odd Thomas' Stalker
Melissa / Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf / Odd Thomas' Mailman
Emily / A Few Good Books / Odd Thomas' Mailman
Rachel / Rachel Loves To Read / Odd Thomas' Mailman

Cassandra / Wickedly Delicious Tales / Odd Thomas' Mailman

So, we have a whole year ahead of us and depending on the level you picked you'll need to make your choice on which of his books you want to read and then, obviously, start reading.

As a little reminder - Odd Thomas' Mailmen get to read 3 books, Odd Thomas' Neighbors 6 books, no one went for Odd Thomas' Best Friend which would be 9 books, and finally, Odd Thomas' Stalker with at least 12 books.

My books for this challenge are:

Cold Fire

Face of Fear

The Mask

The Vision

Hideaway

77 Shadow Street

So, basically I'm going to do a lot of re-reading of older books which I read way back when I was still a teenager. I read them in German translation back then, and now I'll be reading them all in English. My sixth book of choice is Dean's latest novel which isn't yet in my possession. I'm going to wait for the paperback which will conveniently come out around the time my book buying ban ends.

How about you? Have you already decided on which books to read? Let me know!

In My Mailbox - End of Year Edition

2012-01-01T14:10:00.006+01:00

Won

No Evidence Of A Crime (Susan Connell Vondrak)

from Me & Re ading

And because it'd be boring to just show you the one book that waited for me in my starving mailbox, I got a little creative and copied the cover art with a lovely bracelet I've recently won and received this week. For the curious, it's from 3Pearls.

For Review

Dispatches From Bitter America (Todd Starnes)

from NetGalley

Thanks to The Story Siren for hosting the IMM meme!

The Reading Files - End of Year Edition

2012-01-01T14:00:00.021+01:00

Welcome to a whole new look (and name) for my adventures in reading! Of course I didn't manage to read all seven books featured today in just seven days. Due to my Blogoversary and Christmas those are the books that I pawed through over the course of the last three weeks.

Oh, but before we start - please let me know how you like this new format! I'm curious about what you all think!

And now ...

Doris Day: Her Own Story (A.E. Hotchner)
paperback
Source: bought used
Genre: Autobiography

My public image was that of America's la-di-da happy-go-lucky virgin, carefree and brimming with happiness. An image, I can assure you, more make-believe than any film part I have ever played. At ten years of age I discovered that my father was having an affair with the mother of my best friend. At thirteen I was in an auto hit by a train, and that threatened to make me a cripple for life. At seventeen years, I was married to a psychopathic sadist. When my third husband died, a man I had been married to for seventeen years, I discovered that he had left me with a debt of half a million dollars. My reward for a lifetime of hard work.
There's another Doris Day, a woman I know well. It's she who's subject of this book - no holds barred. This is the life I have lived.

Title & Cover: My own book has a different cover - a profile shot of Doris with red background - though I really like them both!

Story: In-debt look into Doris Day's life, from childhood to the mid-70s.

Narrative: Hotchner let's Doris tell her story in her own words - downright honest and heart-wrenchingly open, with a whole lot of interesting tid-bits from her work in music and movies.

Characters: Doris tells about her life, yet Hotchner also included what others tell about her which really rounds off the whole picture.

Thoughts: There have been a lot of books on Doris Day's life and career, but this is the only one where she's actually sharing her story. I was so enthralled and really wished I could have continued reading about the years that followed up to the present day.

Invitation To Ruin (Bronwen Evans)
paperback
Source: won

Genre: Historical Romance

The only thing Miss Melissa Goodly has ever wanted out of a marriage is love. But any hope of that dissolves one wild night, when she loses herself in the arms of the most irresistible--and unobtainable--man in all of England. For when they are discovered in a position as compromising as it is pleasurable, she has no choice but to accept his proposal.
Avowed bachelor Anthony Craven, Earl of Wickham, never meant to seduce an innocent like Melissa. Yet now that the damage is done, it does seem like she'd make a very convenient wife. After all, she is so naive he won't have to worry about ever being tempted. Or so he thinks, until the vows are spoken and they are left alone--and his new bride reveals a streak just as brazen and unrestrained as his own . . .

Title & Cover: Nice cover!

Story: Run-of-the-mill plot of handsome rake meeting kind hearted virgin who, after some back and forth (no pun intended), inevitably get their happily after after.

Narrative: Nothing special though, admittedly, the steamy scenes were, for the most part, not all too bad.

Characters: Awfully cliched!

Thoughts: How can an "accidental" rape lead to love!? Seriously!?!? If it weren't for that scene I'd say the book is your average historical romance read, but the way it is, all I can say is WTF!? Again, no pun intended.

The Great Betrayal (Millenia Black)
paperback
Source: won
Genre: Contemporary Romance

By all appearances, the Cavanaughs of West Palm have an ideal marriage and family life-the perfect home with few complications. Leslie, the beautiful mother, shines brightly in corporate America. Her adoring husband, Luke, is movie-star handsome and an award-winning architect. Their privileged daughter, Kathryn, enjoys the best that life has to offer.
But castles built on sand are eventually washed away by the sea.
Leslie Cavanaugh is not who she claims to be-she's a woman with a painful secret that's about to shake the entire family to its core. And she's not the only one playing a game of deception. Her daughter is risking more than the family's good name with her search for love and attention in all the wrong places, and Leslie finds the unmistakable clues that her husband is having an affair. As she struggles to hold her family together, nothing can prepare her for the most intimate betrayal of all.

Title & Cover: Could a cover be even more non-descript than this?

Story: The blurb pretty much sums it up. Everyone has secrets, yet they aren't all that surprising.

Narrative: The story is being told jumping back and forth in time which is something I usually love if it's well done. Here it's just utterly confusing.

Characters: I couldn't connect with them at all. People died, people cried, I didn't care.

Thoughts: In one word? Boring. Even more tragic than the fact that I had an inkling (which turned out to be right) about what the betrayal is all about very early on, is how none of the events touched me, excited me or engaged me in the slightest. I guess you could say the cover matches the story perfectly.

Evilution (Shaun Jeffrey)

eBook
Source: bought

Genre: Horror / Thriller

Shrouded by fog for nearly two years, the picturesque village of Paradise harbours more than its share of secrets. Having won a cottage in a competition she can't remember entering, Chase Black moves to Paradise, only to discover that its beauty is skin deep - murder and madness fester in its shadows. When her travelling companion, Jane mysteriously disappears, she starts asking questions. Why are the villagers behaving so oddly? Who are the strange figures she sees lurking in the fog? As Chase becomes afraid that something terrible has happened, events escalate dangerously out of control. A virtual prisoner; too late she discovers the real reason she's there ...

Title & Cover: Scary and fits the story to a T!

Story: Interesting premise with the feeling of a horror story, yet at its core a thriller, the book's a bit of a bumpy ride, uhm, read where especially the beginning lacks as far as believability is concerned.

Narrative: Fast paced and suspenseful, but not as smoothly written as his later books.

Characters: Stereotypes galore!

Thoughts: Not bad for a first novel though I have to say I read two later books by the author first and those were a whole lot better. Still, you do get an idea of what Shaun's got up his writer's sleeve and it was neat to see his humble beginnings.

Killers (Shaun Jeffrey)
#2 Prosper Snow Novels

eBook
Source: bought

Genre: Thriller

Murder makes monsters of people. Prosper Snow knows that better than most. Now he’s back on the trail of another serial killer, only this time there’s far more to the case than meets the eye. Thwarted at every turn, Prosper unwittingly uncovers a human experiment more monstrous than anything he could ever imagine. Now the only way to crack the case is to work from the inside and join a shadowy government agency that operates outside the law. Only he might be too late as the experiment has spiralled out of control.

Title & Cover: Certainly fits the genre, yet not exactly outstanding!

Story: Starts out like your average thriller, but then ... evil-twists and whiplash-turns, just the way I like it!

Narrative: Gripping page turner!

Characters: He's done bad things trying to do the right thing. Snow isn't your typical hero, and that's exactly what makes him feel so likable and real.

Thoughts: I was already taken in with the The Kult, which I highly recommend to read first for a deeper understanding of Snow's character. Once again, great movie potential!

Death's Hand (SM Reine)
#1 Descent Series

eBook
Source: bought

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Policing relations between Heaven, Hell, and Earth is messy and violent, but Elise Kavanagh and James Faulkner excelled at it-- until coming across a job so brutal that even they couldn't stand to see one more dead body.
Now they've been pretending to be normal for five years, leaving their horrific history a dark secret. Elise works in an office. James owns a business. None of their friends realize they used to be one of the world's best killing teams.
After years of hiding, something stirs. Bodies are vanishing. Demons scurry in the shadows of the night. A child has been possessed.

Title & Cover: I like this second version of the cover a lot better than the first one, still the elements on it feel a bit cobbled together!

Story: Not all that unique a premise, yet nicely written!

Narrative: Fluent, fast paced, yet the descriptive action scenes did drag a bit!

Characters: I really liked the kick-ass heroine, unfortunately her trusted side-kick remained too shallow for my taste, not quite giving their relationship the balance it deserves (and needs).

Thoughts: I honestly couldn't wait for Sara to write a novel for adults after having read and enjoyed her two Seasons of the Moon books which are YA. Let's just say, it was a good book, but for the future I'll stick to werewolves!

Solstice (P.J. Hoover)

eBook
Source: bought

Genre: Dystopia / Fantasy

Piper’s world is dying. Global warming kills every living thing on Earth, and each day brings hotter temperatures and heat bubbles which threaten to destroy humanity. Amid this Global Heating Crisis, Piper lives with her mother who suffocates her more than the chaotic climate. When her mother is called away to meet the father Piper has been running from her entire life, Piper seizes an opportunity for freedom.
But when Piper discovers a world of mythology she never knew existed, she realizes her world is not the only one in crisis. While Gods battle for control of the Underworld, Piper's life spirals into turmoil, and she struggles to find answers to secrets kept from her since birth. And though she’s drawn to her classmate Shayne, he may be more than he claims. Piper has to choose whom she can trust and how she can save the people she loves even if it means the end of everything she’s ever known.

Title & Cover: Oh so lovely!

Story: Mythology goes dystopia - what a unique approach and great implementation!

Narrative: Told in a very clear, almost poetic voice!

Characters: I liked them all. Period. And I'd love to have my own Cerberus *woof*.

Thoughts: Who knew that these two genres mix so well? A fantastic novel to end the year with.

2011 Reading Challenge October - December

2011-12-31T15:10:00.002+01:00

Here's a run down of how far I got with my 2011 Reading Challenge from July through September:

Total Books Read: 46 (+116)

Fiction: 32 (+84)
Non-fiction: 14 (+32)

Physical Books: 15 (+53)
eBooks: 31 (+63)

Female Authors: 21 (+59)
Male Authors: 25 (+47)

For Review: 12 (+43)

Numbers in brackets are stats for January through September!

October
117. Carnival Of Fear (JG Faherty)
118. The Monster Inside (JG Faherty)
119. These Hellish Happenings (Jennifer Rainey)
120. Ice Age (Iain Rowan)
121. Future Destinies (Chris Turner)
122. Sweet Invention (Michael Krondl)
123. Social Q's (Philip Galanes)
124. Dark Inside (Jeyn Roberts)
125. The Realms Thereunder (Ross Lawhead)
126. Everything I Never Wanted To Be (Dina Kucera)
127. My Heart Stopped Beating (Chamed)
128. Secrets Of Transformation (Eva Dillner)
129. The Maze Runner (James Dashner)
130. The Iron King (Julie Kagawa)
131. Evil Genius (Patricia Rice)
132. The Curse Of Anna Greene (Mary Aris)
133. PeaceMaker (Dan Ronco)
134. Unholy Domain (Dan Ronco)

November
135. Borrowed Saints (Aaron Polson)
136. That's Disgusting (Rachel Herz)
137. Write-A-Thon (Rochelle Melander)
138. No Alibi (Jenny Hilborne)
139. Laying The Odds (J.R. Tomlin)
140. Peace, Love, And Murder (Nancy Holzner)
141. Counting From Zero (Alan B. Johnston)
142. Changers Summer (Mike Lewis)
143. The Boy & Little Witch (Ben White)
144. AfterWord (Dale Salwak)
145. What Language Is (John McWorther)
146. The Way We Fall (Megan Crewe)
147. The Language Of Flowers: A Miscellany (Mandy Kirkby)
148. Death: A Survival Guide (Sarah Brewer)

December
149. The Secret Life Of A Slummy Mummy (Fiona Neill)
150. Am I Really Hungry? (Jane Bernard)
151. The Omnivore's Dilemma (Michael Pollan)
152. The Edinburgh Dead (Brian Ruckley)
153. The Burning Sky (Joseph Robert Lewis)
154. The Broken Sword (Joseph Robert Lewis)
155. Get Lenin (Robert Craven)
156. Doris Day: Her Own Story (A.E. Hotchner)
157. Invitation To Ruin (Bronwen Evans)
158. The Great Betrayal (Millenia Black)
159. Evilution (Shaun Jeffrey)
160. Killers (Shaun Jeffrey)
161. Death's Hand (SM Reine)
162. Solstice (P.J. Hoover)

And now *drumroll* the grand total of books read in 2011!

Total Books Read: 162

Fiction: 116
Non-fiction: 46

Physical Books: 68
eBooks: 94

Female Authors: 80
Male Authors: 82

For Review: 55

Blog Stats 2011 October - December

2011-12-31T15:00:00.008+01:00

A year went by (obviously) which means it's high time to share with you some end-of-year blog stats!

This might just look like a graph showing my page views (actually it is, ha), but in all honesty ... it is also a graph showing how my TBR piles have grown. I ain't joking!

Some facts for the curious ...

My page views passed the 35.000 mark in December.

There are 531 blog posts (including this one).

Exactly 3576 comments (as of this morning).

I've got 847 GFC followers.

The number 1 website that leads people here is, not all too surprisingly, Google.

Most of my readers are from the US (42,3%).

Preferably my blog gets viewed with Firefox.

And only one non-giveaway post made it into the Top Ten viewed blog posts. Which one? The one about Snoopy.

Top Five blog posts by weekly features ...

A Writer's Life
The notebook
Ten inch nails
Careful ... you may not end up in my novel
Corect righting
Please don't stop the music

Quote Garden
Reading in bed
The importance of a piece of paper
Date a girl who reads
If life is a bowl of cherries ...
The coffee mug

Beyond the Shelf
Simon & Schuster Galley Grab
LibraryThing vs. Goodreads
BookSneeze and NetGalley
BookCrossing
Project Gutenberg

Picture Garden
That's The Way I Like It
All The Leaves Have Fallen
Simply Beautiful
The Real Thing
Being Different

The Others
Snoopy
Dean Koontz
Jessica Fletcher
The Brothers Grimm
Stephen King

Pajama Musings
Who the hell is Anton Yelchin!?
Book abuse
The wonderous ways of TBD
Distracted much?
The Bookshopper

Books Aplenty
My download addiction
I almost forgot ...
I want to be a Diva, but I might pass on trying to have 50 jobs in only a year
It's only a matter of speed
From chick-lit to bloke-lit

In My Mailbox
20
21
Christmas Edition

Blogoversary Edition
8

Non Fiction Reviews
Sister Species
Malled
The Tao Of Travel
My Business Is To Create
Paradise Lust

Fiction Reviews
The Judas Gospel
The Skin Map
The Realms Thereunder
The Seraph Seal
Blood Red Road

Giveaways
Gratitude Giveaways
Blogoversary Giveaway #1
Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop
BlogFest 2011
200 Followers Giveaway

Pajama Musings - Bookish New Year's Resolutions

2011-12-31T11:00:00.005+01:00

It's that time of year again. If you haven't already noticed, the end is near. Of 2011. Hopefully also the end of some book related habits I developed that can only be described with one word. Bad.

Obviously I've been a very good girl as far as reading is concerned. I managed to read tons of books this year, after all. On the other hand three books rolled in for every book I read, at least it feels that way. So, you see, there is room for improvement. A lot of it, actually. Think wide open plains.

Let me introduce you to my bookish New Year's Resolutions!

Yep, plural.

No eBook hoarding!

Basically this means no free downloads, no eBook requests on LibraryThing, no entering giveaways for eBooks and ... well, in case I have overlooked anything else that includes the words "free" and "eBook" let's just say, it is strictly forbidden!

Why? I've been stuffing my eReader that it's bordering on the ridiculous. While all those books don't take away physical space, if you saw my digital TBR list you'd question my sanity. Even I question my sanity in that regard. So, enough is enough!

Reading more books in the German language!

I realized that all through 2011 I only read English books. There was not a single book in German among them, neither original language nor translation. It's not as though there wouldn't be any on my TBR piles, on the contrary, but somehow I always felt drawn to the English ones. This shall change. I'm on the verge of forgetting my own mother tongue if I keep this up, in fact, I have this slight suspicion that my decision to write a short-story book in English instead of German is related to my reading habits. So from now on I want to read at least two books in my own language each month. Not the big leap you probably expected, but a start in the right direction anyway.

Reading challenges on a small scale!

I signed up for a Reading Challenge in 2011 with the goal to read 100 books. To my own surprise I already hit that number in August and ultimately I managed to read 162 books. To be honest with you, I rushed through a lot of them and in the future I really want to savor them and not just scoff them down like a hungry hyena. This means I'm not going to aim at reading a certain amount of books, because this evidently happens anyway. In fact, I'm going to take it a wee bit slower next year. What I am definitely looking forward to are my own two challenges though - the Dean Koontz one, and the one with the chunksters!

Book Buying Ban!

If you aren't impressed by the previous resolutions this one will knock you off your feet. I'm not talking about a month of buying no books. I'm not talking about two months. And, alright, I'm not talking about a full year either. My aim is not to acquire any new books in the first half of the new year. Yep, I'm talking about six months without book buying *gasp* I know this sounds as if I have lost my mind (again), but trust me there is no other way to diminish my mountain ranges of unread books. Does this ban scare me? Actually no. It would be a lot more scary if I kept up my book hoarding. Oh, and by the way, winning books in giveaways or receiving books as gifts will be allowed. I'm not that crazy!

So, you see, I thought long and hard and those are my New Year's resolutions. Have you got any bookish resolutions for 2012? Feel free to share!

Book 101 - (Auto)biograhy

2011-12-30T11:00:00.001+01:00

Not everybody likes to read biographies or autobiographies, but sometimes it will lure in even those who would otherwise never touch non fiction books. Some might go straight for the bare-all tales of 20 year old so-called Hollywood stars while others tend to grab the memoirs of a real oh-the-good-old-days personality who shares memories of a fascinating life. I'm certainly not for book burning, but in case I should ever run out of fire wood I'd gladly use some wanna-be stars memoirs to warm my feet. Yes, I confess, I don't really see the necessity of [insert name of wannabe starlet with slight drug abuse problem]'s memoirs. Of course [insert name of wannabe starlet with slight drug abuse problem] probably did not write them herself anyway, but some poor sap was paid to do so - yep, I'm awfully prejudiced, but who could blame me? And then, of course, there's this whole thing about authorized and unauthorized aka juicy biographies ...

But some facts first.

The biography is an account of a person's life written down by another. Sometimes biographies are written as biographical novels providing a fictional and usually entertaining account of a person's life. In both cases the author will focus on the experiences a person had during their lifetime, though in the latter case the combination of fact and fiction lends the biography the appearance of a novel. In both cases names and accounts may or may not be changed when necessary.

An autobiography or memoir is a retrospective prose narrative produced by a person concerning his or her own existence, focusing on their individual life. Sometimes an author will opt for a autobiographical novel instead, the story still bearing a close resemblance to that of the author's life, yet names and locations are often changed, and events are recreated to make them more dramatic. While the events of the author's life are recounted, there is no pretense of exact truth. Events may be exaggerated or altered for artistic or thematic purposes.

To be considered an autobiographical, there must be a protagonist modeled after the author and a central plotline that mirrors events in his or her life. Novels that do not fully meet these requirements or are further distanced from true events are sometimes called semi-autobiographical novels.

So, now that we've brought the dry part of what (auto)biographies are behind us, let's focus on my personal preferences in that genre. I guess by now we've established that I don't care about [insert name of wannabe starlet with slight drug abuse problem]'s life. Equally I'm really more of a want-to-hear-it-from-the-source-itself kind of person when it comes to reading about other people's lives. I've recently read Doris Day: Her Own Story (as told to A.E. Hotchner) which I truely loved. Of course there are some parts were her biographer recounts his meetings with Doris and his impressions of her, but mostly you will read her story in her own words which have been transcribed from tapes. Honest, funny, serious, touching - the whole range without the whole flashy I-need-to-make-some-extra-bucks-so-I-can-buy-myself-a-joint-after-being-released-from-jail kind of crap.

Do you like to read (auto)biographies? If so, any recommendations for me? Please share!

Picture Garden - The Not So White Season

2011-12-29T11:00:00.003+01:00

"THE NOT SO WHITE SEASON"

A festive yet snow-less impression of the old town district.
I've been really hoping I could share a snow pic today, but alas the Weather Gods weren't on my side and didn't provide any snow flakes for my photographic endeavors. I trust we will be buried in snow in January though.

Be ready for a whole new Picture Garden experience starting in 2012 - brought to you by my lovely new Nikon camera!

Winner Announcement

2011-12-28T15:00:00.002+01:00

I realize that most will just skim over these lines and eagerly check the winner's names below in the hope they are among the lucky ones. So to avoid that anybody dozes off reading this I'm going to make it short and just say THANKS for being here and reading my blog and a warm WELCOME to all new followers too!

And let's not forget my wonderful Blogoversary sponsors Leigh, Julie and Kim - THANK YOU so much again for being part of the giveaways and spoiling my readers with some of your lovely creations!

Oh, alright then ... you may now check the winner's names!

Winner of the Blogoversary Giveaway #1

A necklace of choice from Pretty Little Charms

Ally @ Snow Feathers

Winner of the Blogoversary Giveaway #2

A book of choice by Dean Koontz

Diana

Winner of the Blogoversary Giveaway #3

A book of choice by Terry Pratchett

Lulu

Winner of the Blogoversary Giveaway #4

A bookmark of choice from Belle Rose Designs

Amy

Winner of the Blogoversary Giveaway #5

A book of choice by Sophie Kinsella

AmbreRose

Winner of the Blogoversary Giveaway #6

A book of choice by Tess Gerritsen

Stella @ Ex Libris

Winner of the Blogoversary Giveaway #7

A $20,00 GC from Satelliter

miki

Winner of the Mid-Winters Eve Blog Hop

Wordsworth book by Dickens or Brothers Grimm

Susan @ The Book Bag

E-mails are on the way! Due to the holiday season the winners will have a full week to respond and if he/she fails to do so I will draw a new winner.

Alright folks, that's it with giveaways for 2011!

See you again for more giveaway fun next year!!

Beyond the Shelf - Books Set In

2011-12-28T11:00:00.003+01:00

Have you ever wanted to read books set in a certain country or city to get into the mood for your next vacation there? Did you end up looking for such books for hours, browsing the internet, maybe asking dome friends? Were the books you did find to your liking, or even worse, didn't you really find any books at all? If so, you're certainly not alone, because when ever I tried to find a book set in eg Orlando (one of my fav destinations) I wouldn't have known how on earth to find any novels set in the city. And travel guides obviously do not count. Equally I've always admired folks who are planning reading groups focusing on books set in a particular region. Just thinking about one such reading challenge in particular *waves hello to Ally and her love for venice* makes me marvel at how people find great reads for it. Anyway, in case you're in need of a book set in Edinburgh or Kazakhstan or Mars, look no longer ... I present to you the website you've all been waiting for (in fact I've been waiting for such a site myself for ages but only ever found out about it recently) - Books Set In.

Here you can look up tons of books by location. Just pick the continent, then the country and finally the city, and voila, you get a nice amount of books set right there. And yes, you can even fly to Outer Space here!

So, what about Edinburgh, Kazakhstan and Mars then?
You may look up lists of books for all three and lo and behold, I even found a book that features all three places. I present to you The Stone Canal (Ken MacLeod). Now you're impressed, right? So am I.

But seriously, this is such an amazing site! You can just the same look for a certain author and where his/her novels are set. Or how about by genre? If you're not big on lists, maybe you want to try out Google Map Search to find books instead. And in case you miss a particular book that you know well yourself, feel free to add it to the list.

That said, head on over and have fun exploring, and consequently, reading!

Quote Garden - Christmas Time

2011-12-27T11:00:00.000+01:00

I have a sort of Christmas-morning sense of the library as a big box full of beautiful books.

Audrey Niffenegger

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way (s)he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

Maya Angelou

Do give books - religious or otherwise - for Christmas. They’re never fattening, seldom sinful, and permanently personal.

Lenore Hershey

The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.

George Carlin

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.

Charles Dickens

A Writer's Life - 366 days of writing

2011-12-26T11:00:00.002+01:00

Those who aren't aware of it yet, the next year will bring us one additional day to be spent at out leisure. You can use February 29th in a lot of different ways. Sleeping. Reading. More sleeping. Or writing, of course. While I don't exactly plan ahead for the leap day, I thought I'd share with you my general authorial plans for 2012. And there are quite a few, so I better be thankful for that extra day, and on second thought, maybe it will also help to only sleep four hours a day. Then again, with only four hours of sleep I'd be the first published zombie writer, and I have this feeling this won't make for great publicity shots. Anyway.

I have three projects I want to finish next year.

No 1 - The next in line

Nope, this isn't the title of the book, haha! I'm referring to a follow up on my inspirational gift book series that I started with The Attic in My Yard this year.

Working title? A Cup of Simplicity

Progress? Haven't started on it yet.

Language? English.

No 2 - Keeping it short

Once again, this isn't the title, though it gives away what kind of book it will be, namely a short story compilation of speculative fiction, reminiscent of the Twilight Zone if you want to get a better idea of the direction I'll be taking here.

Working title? down below and in between

Progress? I have already written jotted down outlines for several stories.

Language? English (I must be crazy, but when I realized how much I've been reading in English this year, trying myself on writing in English seemed like the next logical step)

No 3 - Dissecting the author

Could be a fast paced thriller in which body parts are being sent to an unsuspecting young author. But it's not. Yet the genre is right, and the main character is an author.

Working title? Now

Progress? I already started on the novel in late 2010, though I haven't been working on it all that regularly. I felt stuck with a certain part of the plot, and after this knot finally unraveled this November, I'm finally back on track. Figuring in my story board for the book, my guess is that I've got roughly 20% of it written down.

Language? German

So, as you can see, 2012 will be quite busy for me! Truth be told, these aren't by far all the projects that occupy my time, just the ones I really want to finish in the next twelve months.

Wish me luck! What am I saying? It's not a matter of luck, but a matter of placing my butt in front of the computer and write away ...

My Bookworm Santa

2011-12-25T14:10:00.002+01:00

This year I decided to put on my Santa hat and join in one of the many Secret Santa book exchanges out there. As I've been a long time follower of Bree's The Magic Attic it goes without saying that I had to sign up for My Bookworm Santa on her blog.

Today's the day when we will reveal our secret identities *insert Mission Impossible theme music* to those we played Santa for. In case you should know Ashley from Bookaholics Anonymous then psst don't tell her this, but I'm her Secret Santa ... and I sent her the following two books!

And now, what did my Secret Santa surprise me with? Well, I'll be kept in suspense a little longer it seems, because Rudolph has taken a wrong turn somewhere and Santa is consequently a wee bit delayed. Of course, once I hear my bookish present rattle down the chimey I will update this post straight away!

*****

Woohoo ... my prezzie has finally arrived! I can't believe that TBD needed almost a month to deliver, but I'm sooo happy that my Secret Santa picked a book from my personal Top Five books on my wishlist, so it was worth the wait!!

Thank you Amber!!!