tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165704332024-03-07T00:18:32.739-05:00Book Lovers Blog by JaniceStCThis blog is for book lovers. Initially this blog focused on the books selected by members of the Okefenokee Book Club who used to meet in Waycross, Georgia. Now, it is about my reading interests. I will also continue to post any interesting information related to writers, libraries, and book clubs in general. Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.comBlogger893125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-39902451986592275392021-01-03T12:34:00.002-05:002021-01-03T12:38:17.161-05:00COVID Crochet Creativity 2020<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpNlym5myN0aYQllsX0xheq6dBXn4e4S0hD0Q0BWOyPD335fL7G6Himcjx91-pmpiZMU1qe9jnWnuaiUevPFLc8TAqsNHLD5tvzl889ReWdgZt1F4dx-ur94IlgMNRpR10b90/s2048/20201206_132730.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpNlym5myN0aYQllsX0xheq6dBXn4e4S0hD0Q0BWOyPD335fL7G6Himcjx91-pmpiZMU1qe9jnWnuaiUevPFLc8TAqsNHLD5tvzl889ReWdgZt1F4dx-ur94IlgMNRpR10b90/s320/20201206_132730.jpg" /></a></div><br />I will remember 2020 not just as the pandemic year but also the year I searched the internet for free and easy crochet patterns, picked up my crochet needle and crocheted 7 bags. I kept 2 bags, I gave away 3 to friends or family members, 1 donated to the Kiwanis Club for a child going into foster care, that one in the middle I intend to donate to Kiwanis for another child going into foster care, and I am working on an 8th. Crochet is relaxing<p></p><div>In terms of books, I will remember 2020 as the year I discovered fiction books by Harlan Coben, <span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://okebookclub.blogspot.com/2020/09/my-new-favorite-canadian-writer.html" target="_blank">Shari Lapeña</a>, and A. J. Finn.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fff9ee; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px;">Like everyone all over the world I have looked forward to leaving 2020 behind. 2021 I am sure will start off rough but I think there are quite a few of us in the world who are optimistic that it must get better than 2020. There is an article I want to share. I met this family at a church 19 years ago and this is their COVID miracle. Wishing you and this family joy and health: </span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://people.com/health/woman-wakes-up-from-coma-last-day-before-being-taken-off-ventilator-coronavirus-lisa-martin/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://people.com/health/woman-wakes-up-from-coma-last-day-before-being-taken-off-ventilator-coronavirus-lisa-martin/</a></span></span></div>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-89562654164162829742020-09-13T19:11:00.000-04:002020-09-13T19:11:01.444-04:00My New Favorite Canadian Writer <p>A work colleague recommended <b>Couple Next Door </b>by Shari Lapeña to me and now Lapena has become one of my favorite Canadian thriller writers. After reading that debut novel by Lapena, I followed up with <b><a href="https://sharilapena.com/book/someone-we-know/excerpt/" target="_blank">Someone We Know</a> </b>about a teenager who breaks into the homes of his neighbors and hacks into their computers to read their hidden secrets, just for the fun of it. Also, someone in the neighborhood has been reported missing by her husband. Later her body is discovered. As the police investigate, things that were hidden are revealed one by one. It was exciting to follow the story-line to see how the computer hacking and the dead body connected.<br /></p><p>I just completed a third book by this writer, An <a href="https://sharilapena.com/book/an-unwanted-guest/" target="_blank">Unwanted Guest</a>. Several guests turn up at this secluded mountain lodge for a weekend get-away. It was supposed to be a romantic get-away for some couples and a place of peace and quiet to rest and recuperate for some other individuals. For one guest it was supposed to be a quiet place of work; she was a writer. They arrived in bad weather. One person is murdered, then another, then another, and yet another. The place of peace and quiet turned into a death trap. I certainly could not guess who the killer(s) was or were or guess the motives while I was reading. None of the guests seemed to have had a history prior to being at the lodge. The most likely killer of the first deceased guest just seemed to have been her romantic partner. When the second guest died, it seemed like perhaps there was an outsider who was committing these murders. </p><p>I could not put the books down. I finished reading each book in about two days. The books are not at the level of Louise Penny, my other favorite Canadian writer, but I have enjoyed all three books.<br /></p>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-31912727475830592312020-07-10T14:54:00.002-04:002020-07-10T14:54:28.158-04:00Read to Learn and Grow! Read for Pleasure!I am not a big reader of non-fiction but I like the list of books recommended by <a href="https://terrikarelle.com/reading-list-2019/" target="_blank">Dr. Terri-Karelle</a> on her blog. This Jamaican blogger read 45 books in 2019.<br />
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I have actually read and learned a lot from Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, all the books by Malcolm Gladwell on her list, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, and the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.<br />
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Read to learn and grow! Read for the joy of it! Right now, I am reading <i>Almost</i> <i>Sisters </i>by <a href="http://www.joshilynjackson.com/books/" target="_blank">Joshilyn Jackson.</a> I read one other book by her many years ago, <i>Gods in</i> <i>Alabama</i>.Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-88209201888468492562020-07-03T16:28:00.003-04:002020-07-10T14:56:24.860-04:00Stories of Deception and BetrayalWatching <i>The Woods</i> on Netflix, set in Poland, led me to the actual
book of the same name by Harlan Coben, set in New Jersey. This led me to read another Harlan book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gone-Good-Novel-Harlan-Coben-ebook/dp/B000XUBC5E/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=gone+for+good&qid=1593787798&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Gone for Good.</a> I also read a book recommended by a coworker, The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Couple-Next-Door-Novel/dp/0735221103/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=couple+next+door&qid=1593807247&s=books&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Couple Next Door</a> by Shari Lapena. <br />
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<i>Gone For Good </i>and <i>The Couple Next Door</i> were full of surprises; lots of twists and turns to both stories because of the family secrets, the lies, and the betrayal. It was hard to figure out who the good guys were and who the bad guys were. In The Couple Next Door, a baby is missing. Is she being held for ransom? Is she dead? Who took her? Those were the questions that we readers needed to find out. <i>Gone for Good </i>seemed to have dead bodies everywhere. Will Klein was the protagonist in this story. His brother Ken is on the run from the law; wanted for the murder of his neighbor who just happened to have been Will's ex-girlfriend. Is Ken innocent as Will seems to believe or is he really guilty? Is Ken dead or alive? Who really is Will's current girlfriend, Sheila? What does he really know about Sheila? Those were the questions that came to mind as I read. Both books were excellent reads and I highly recommend them. I could not put these books down. I am on a roll with my reading. I finished reading each book after two days.<br />
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Happy reading on July 4th weekend. Keep away from COVID-19.Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-73450568324577620662020-07-03T16:17:00.001-04:002020-07-10T14:15:14.971-04:00Confession: I have not been reading during COVID 19Since I had to stay at home during COVID-19 for a few weeks, I thought I
would have been reading all the time. I did not read. I would start a
book then stop reading. I just could not finish reading a whole book. I
stayed up until 2:00 am watching Netflix. I crocheted a pair of bedroom
slippers, a tote and a cell phone holder.<br />
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I have completed two weeks at work now and I am still chilling and
watching Netflix when I can but the "dry spell" is over. Once again Netflix led me to a book. This
time it led me to read books by Harlan Coben. Believe it or not, this
avid reader of murder mysteries had never read anything by <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Harlan Coben</a>. I watched <b>The Five, The Stranger, Safe</b> and more recently, <b>The Woods </b>on
Netflix. The movie version of The Woods was set in Poland with English
subtitles while the original book version was set in New Jersey. That
fact right there led me to read the book. I think I missed some details
trying to watch the movie and read the translated subtitles at the same
time so that also pushed me to read the book. Finished reading it in two
days. It was really that good.<br />
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Now I have to devour more Harlan Coben books.Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-4032085723923932002020-06-20T20:11:00.000-04:002020-06-20T20:11:42.427-04:00Flashback to Book Club Pick 2009"<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;">His breakout 2001 novel </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.npr.org/books/titles/138384683/the-shadow-of-the-wind" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5076b8; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Shadow of the Wind</a> </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;">follows Daniel, a young boy in Barcelona just after World War II, whose father takes him to The Cemetery of Lost Books, a mysterious bookstore at the heart of the city. " Petra Mayer. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/06/19/880858467/bestselling-spanish-novelist-carlos-ruiz-zaf-n-dies-at-55" target="_blank">Carlos Ruiz Zafón is dead</a>. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/16570433/8975470720038477301" target="_blank">S</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/16570433/8975470720038477301" target="_blank">hadow of </a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/16570433/8975470720038477301" target="_blank">the Wind</a> was one of our favorite Book club picks in 2009 when we had our book club active in Waycross. That book set us up to read his other books; <b>Angel's Game</b> and <b>Prisoner of Heaven. <a href="https://www.carlosruizzafon.co.uk/titles/carlos-ruiz-zafon/the-labyrinth-of-the-spirits/9781474606219/" target="_blank">Labyrinth of the Spirits </a></b>is the one that I never got around to reading.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;">Sleep in peace Carlos. You fully satisfied our passion for reading.</span><br />
<br />Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-21158165988722261312020-03-07T08:04:00.002-05:002020-03-07T08:04:59.346-05:00Jamaican Slave in Australia - Historical Fiction How did a Jamaican slave named William Buchanan end up a convict in Australia in the 19th century? I have absolutely no idea but I’d like to find out in this historical fiction titled, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Master-Of-My-Fate/dp/0143787535/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Sienna+brown+master+of+my+fate&qid=1583585236&s=books&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Master of My Fate </a>by Jamaican born writer Sienna Brown. Apparently, William Buchanan really existed and he was in fact banished to Australia because of his role in an1831 slave rebellion.<br />
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Other slaves like Sam Sharpe were executed because of their role in the 1831 rebellion. I have no idea why some were spared from execution and banished to Australia. You can find a list of <a href="http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Samples2/mconvicts.htm" target="_blank">Jamaican slaves </a>, on a genealogy site, who ended up in Australia in the 19th century. <br />
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This book is on my Must-Read list. Dear Readers, it’s a weekend. Stay healthy and keep reading.Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-49070150568605158312020-02-08T10:31:00.004-05:002020-03-07T08:09:45.666-05:00What’s on Your Must Read List for 2020?Dear Book-lovers,<br />
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My Must Read list is getting longer. I am reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/She-Said-Breaking-Harassment-Movement-ebook/dp/B07Q187L9K/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=She+said&qid=1581174916&sr=8-1" target="_blank">She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey</a>, winners of a Pulitzer Prize. This book is about how journalists got their stories on sexual harassment and assaults, mainly in the work place, and how it triggered the #MeToo movement. Most of the book was focused on the movie producer <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/02/06/802340962/heres-what-we-ve-learned-so-far-at-harvey-weinstein-s-trial" target="_blank">Harvey Weinstein</a> (link to NPR article with caution, graphic details), whose court case is currently in process. This is a fascinating account of what goes on in journalism behind the scenes, before we get to read and watch it in real time.</div>
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After that I hope to move on to A. J. Finn’s book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Woman-Window-Novel-Finn/dp/0062678426/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1IAOLLWJBDJLX&keywords=woman+in+the+window+book&qid=1581175243&sprefix=Woman+in+%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-2" target="_blank">The Woman in the Window</a>, a psychological thriller about a woman suffering from agoraphobia who sees, through her window of course, a crime being committed. I discovered a movie trailer on YouTube for that book. Check it out yourself! The movie will be released in May. </div>
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I read a review of <a href="http://The Eiffel Tower Prophecy" target="_blank">The Eiffel Tower Prophecy</a> by D.B. Gilles in FIRST magazine that caught my interest. It’s a time travel story that goes back to Paris in 1889. The reviewer, Carlo DeCatlo, said the book was impossible to put down. That is my kind of book.</div>
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What’s on your Must Read List?</div>
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Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-33498936953748990512020-01-31T07:23:00.001-05:002020-02-01T17:11:04.744-05:00Family Drama: Young Adult NovelDear Readers,<br />
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This is the final post for my Toastmasters challenge to create a compelling blog. This morning I am checking on information about Celeste Ng, the writer of <b>Little Fires Everywhere.</b> Her debut book is titled, <a href="https://www.celesteng.com/everything-i-never-told-you" target="_blank">Everything I Never Told You</a> (2014).<br />
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After reading information on the debut novel online, I can see that Celeste has a pattern. Celeste likes writing about family drama, rifts within the family. In this first book, as well as the one I just read, the youngest child in the family is a key character; the one who knows the truth. Both books feature Chinese American families. The main story in the debut novel is about a Chinese American family with three children while in the book I just read, family means an unmarried Chinese American woman and her baby. You know what else these two books have in common? Both are bestsellers!<br />
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Personally, I would rate the novel I just read 4 out of 5 stars. It kept me up until well past midnight so it held my interest. I am not satisfied with how it ended for Izzy, the youngest child, but the resolution for all the other characters was satisfying. I will not give away anything more in case you want to read this book.<br />
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I notice also that Celeste is from Shaker Heights, Ohio which was the setting of the novel. Shaker Heights was presented in the book as this very orderly community with lots of rules and in the midst of it were all these teens in chaos.<br />
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There you have it dear readers. I am pursuing the Toastmasters Innovative Planning Path and my challenge was to write 8 blog posts in the month of January. This is the final post for this particular challenge.<br />
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Are you blogging? Share a link to your book blog with me. Thanks.<br />
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<br />Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-317294936131171552020-01-31T00:44:00.003-05:002020-01-31T07:26:56.108-05:00Reading All NightDear Readers,<br />
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It is going to be a long night of reading for me. Once I find a book I really like, I can’t put it down. Unfortunately, I had to put aside The Redbreast. There were too many subplots; I got lost. Now I am reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Little-Fires-Everywhere-Celeste-Ng/dp/0735224315/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2J96HJHCZ3BBD&keywords=little+fires+everywhere&qid=1580442958&sprefix=Little+fires%2Caps%2C389&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Little Fires Everywhere</a> by Celeste Ng.<br />
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This is not a book that would normally attract my attention but it was recommended by my friend, Charmaine. When we were 12 or 13 years old, Charmaine and I were avid readers of Agatha Christie. Now we recommend our favorite books to each other.<br />
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I am on page 273 and so far I can write, “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive.” This is not a murder mystery. This is about dysfunctional family dynamics and the genre is young adult. The story starts off with a house on fire, little fires were set in various rooms, and everyone suspects the youngest and the most rebellious child in the family named Izzy. Plus, Izzy is missing. There are several subplots in this story and they all connected. Right now I am hoping this story will have a satisfying resolution.<br />
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What do you do when you find a very interesting book, do you read all night?Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-28972231467717586512020-01-22T23:29:00.000-05:002020-01-31T14:12:24.656-05:00Librarian in Residence Dear Readers,<br />
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I have an unusual question for you today. Do you know a librarian who really loves reading and book clubs? Here is an opportunity to share with him or her. <a href="https://hello-sunshine.com/librarian" target="_blank">Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club</a> is looking for a Librarian-in-Residence. Each month the lucky librarian will talk about selected books with Reese Witherspoon and with various authors.<br />
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Here is a list of requirements:<br />
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<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">“You are comfortable on camera</li>
<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">You are well-versed in Reese’s Book Club books & well-read overall</li>
<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">You are passionate about book clubs & book culture</li>
<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">You are enthusiastic & fun-loving</li>
<li style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">You have experience as a Librarian”</li>
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<span style="font-family: "sofiapro" , "helveticaneue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.701961);">Applicants need to complete and submit a form as well as a 90-second video indicating why they are the best candidate for the position. </span></span></div>
<br />Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-63095897067544360772020-01-20T23:00:00.001-05:002020-01-20T23:00:16.673-05:00Historical Fiction on My Must Read List Dear Readers,<br />
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If you have been following my last four posts, you know that my 2020 Toastmasters challenge is to create eight compelling blog posts. Today on Martin Luther King Jr. Day I started reading one of my favorite magazines, FIRST for Women, the February 10 issue. I like to browse the books recommended by the editors of the magazine. My eyes went directly to the Historical Fiction category first.<br />
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The historical fiction recommended by Patty Bontekoe, FIRST executive editor was <b>Big Lies in a Small Town</b> by Diane Chamberlain. According to Patty, the book flips between the past and present. The setting is North Carolina in 1940 and 2018. I came across this blog, <a href="https://bookedsolidwithvac.blogspot.com/2019/10/big-lies-in-small-town-plus-three-more.html?spref=tw" target="_blank">Booked Solid with Virginia C.</a>, which has a detailed review of the book and background information on the writer.<br />
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The other category in the magazine that caught my attention was the Classic category. Victoria Conn, the FIRST assistant fashion editor, recommended <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Number-Stars-Lois-Lowry/dp/0547577095/ref=sr_1_1?crid=HFQG3A9JX1PJ&keywords=number+the+stars+book&qid=1579579029&sprefix=Number+the+stars%2Caps%2C469&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Number the Stars by Lois Lowry</a>. This turned out to be another historical fiction. The classic category was a reference to the fact that the book was published in 2011. The setting is Copenhagen during World War 11 when the Germans began their campaign to “relocate” Danish Jews. The story is told from the point of view of a 10 year old girl. Amazon indicated that this book is for children aged 10-12 years old and the writer was awarded the Newberry Medal for this book.<br />
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What fascinated me was that just last week, I had a conversation about this exact period in Danish history with a history professor. He told me that he attended an event years ago where the speaker was born in Denmark and was among the Danish Jews who survived with the help of the Danes by escaping via Sweden. What a coincidence to come across this book dealing with that exact period of Danish history.<br />
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What do you know about the Danish Resistance?<br />
<br />Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-85751387247104214312020-01-14T21:18:00.001-05:002020-06-20T20:40:44.203-04:00Netflix Led Me to Jo NesboDear Readers,<br />
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I am a Toastmaster who likes to read. I am pausing from my reading to meet my Toastmasters challenge. My challenge is to create 8 compelling blog posts this month. “Compelling” suggests that my posts need to be interesting and engaging. This is my fourth post to date.<br />
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What am I reading? <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Redbreast-Harry-Hole-Novel/dp/0062068423/ref=sr_1_1?crid=VTT2Z8J1X0OV&keywords=redbreast+jo+nesbo&qid=1579054212&sprefix=Redbreast%2Caps%2C1009&sr=8-1" target="_blank">The Redbreast </a>, a crime novel featuring a character called Harry Hole, by a Norwegian writer; Jo Nesbø. I had heard about this writer but can not recall ever reading any of his books. Recently, I came across a TV series 🎥 🍿 on Netflix called Occupied and read that one of the creators was <a href="https://jonesbo.com/jo-nesbo/" target="_blank">Jo Nesbø</a>. I watched 3 seasons over a three day weekend. It was scary, full of political drama, and I could not stop watching. Scary because the Russians were insidiously occupying Norway and manipulating the Norwegian government. Scary because it seemed like life could possibly imitate art, the storyline seemed so realistic. In fact, in real life I read that the Kremlin is unhappy with how Russia is portrayed in this series.<br />
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The movie or TV series, led me to read an interview with Jo Nesbø. Nesbø mentioned in the interview that at the age of 15, he discovered that his Dad fought on the side of the Nazis in World War 11. The information gleaned from his Dad was used in the writing ✍️ of The Redbreast. And that is how a Netflix movie led me to my current reading interest.<br />
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What are you reading these days?Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-87995794784760087002020-01-12T08:00:00.001-05:002020-01-14T21:24:36.859-05:00Book BlogsDear Readers,<br />
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I am a Toastmaster. I am on a Toastmasters journey and am following the Innovative Planning Path as part of the Toastmasters educational program to improve communication and leadership skills. My challenge is to create 8 compelling blog posts related to books and this is my third post.<br />
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This morning I am looking at other Book Blogs. A google search directed me to <a href="https://www.thebooksmugglers.com/about" target="_blank">Book Smugglers</a>. This is a book review blog for all ages started in 2007 by Ana Grilo and Thea James and specializing in “speculative fiction” since 2008. Speculative fiction refers to fiction that has futuristic or supernatural themes.<br />
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The bloggers mostly review books sent to them by the authors or publishers. The January 8th post, the most current post at this time, is featured under the title, <a href="https://www.thebooksmugglers.com/2020/01/old-school-wednesdays-jingo-by-terry-pratchett.html" target="_blank">Old School Wednesdays</a>. The bloggers indicate that Old School Wednesdays is a regular feature since the end of 2012. The book reviewed is a Terry Pratchett book, Jingo, published in 1997 hence the “old school” reference.<br />
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Jingo does not sound like my kind of book and I am not familiar with this writer. His last name actually reminded me of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ann-Patchett/e/B000AQ6QAW?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3&qid=1578832704&sr=8-3" target="_blank">Ann Patchett.</a> Patchett wrote a book called Bel Canto which I loved. One reason I loved Bel Canto was because it was loosely based on a real life hostage situation in Peru under former President Alberto Fujimori. I was always fascinated by President Fujimori, a Peruvian of Japanese descent. Sadly, he was found guilty of corruption and sentenced to prison. Now his intriguing life story would be a great book and movie. A quick amazon search revealed that Bel Canto is a 2018 movie in the drama/thriller category.<br />
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Are you a fan of speculative fiction? Check out the Book Smugglers blog.Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-84304121631397952012020-01-05T21:30:00.000-05:002020-01-31T14:33:58.675-05:00Best Books 2019Hello Dear Readers,<br />
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Here I am posting again for my Toastmasters challenge. My challenge is to complete a Level 4 elective by writing a “compelling” blog and post 8 times in the month of January. Here we go!<br />
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What were your favorite books to read in 2019? President Barack Obama tweeted a list of his favorite <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1211033245812441091" target="_blank">books for 2019</a>. AARP magazine, the December 2019 issue, also has a list of recommended books in an article on page 13 titled, “Our Top Picks of 2019”.<br />
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None of the books on these two lists was even on my radar. I was too busy reading books by one of my favorite writers, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LisaJewellofficial/" target="_blank">Lisa Jewell.</a> I read about 9 books by her in 2019. What all her books had in common was family drama. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/The-Family-Upstairs/dp/1787461483/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3C0M9AV1G6G7M&keywords=family+upstairs+a+novel+by+lisa+jewell&qid=1578318218&sprefix=family+upstar%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-3" target="_blank">The Family Upstairs</a>, the most recent publication, was the last book I read for 2019. This story about three dysfunctional families, who ended up living in the same house in London, held my interest to the very end. This was a story about manipulation, obsession, and murder.<br />
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On President Obama’s list, the book I’d like to read is American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson because I like thrillers:<br />
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“<span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.952941); font-family: "pt serif" , "georgia" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;">Structured as a letter addressed to her two young sons, this thriller</span> is<span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.952941); font-family: "pt serif" , "georgia" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"> centered around Marie Mitchell, a black FBI intelligence officer.</span><span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.952941); font-family: "pt serif" , "georgia" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"> </span><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.952941); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.952941); font-family: "PT Serif", Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;">American Spy </i><span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.952941); font-family: "pt serif" , "georgia" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: 0.5px;">travels in time between Marie’s upbringing in 1960s Queens and her spy work during the Cold War to highlight the trials of a protagonist questioning her identity as a woman, a person of color and an American.” Source: <a href="https://time.com/5652277/barack-obama-2019-summer-reading-list/" target="_blank">Time Magazine</a></span><br />
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From the AARP list, the book I’d like to read is <a href="http://Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson" target="_blank">Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson</a>. This is a family saga told from different perspectives. From the amazon reviews, it is about teenage pregnancy and the impact on the generations. The AARP list also includes <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Testaments-Novel-Margaret-Atwood/dp/0385543786/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2IUHYLRG5PUC&keywords=testaments+attwood&qid=1578276625&sprefix=Testaments+at%2Caps%2C218&sr=8-1" target="_blank">The Testaments </a>by Margaret Atwood, the sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale. I have enjoyed the dystopian world of Margaret Atwood in the past but I didn’t enjoy reading The Handmaid’s Tale. I couldn’t complete reading the book.<br />
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What were your favorite books 📚 in 2019?Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-35139205651792237302020-01-03T01:38:00.002-05:002020-01-31T14:26:35.685-05:00Public Domain DayHappy New Year Dear Readers:<br />
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Hoping you will have a holy, happy, and healthy 2020. I have a new challenge in 2020. For my Toastmasters Club I need to maintain a “compelling” blog and post at least 8 times this month. My focus will continue to be books and anything related to books. Here we go with the first post.<br />
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This morning I found an interesting article on the important subject of “public domain” for all you avid readers of the classics. What is public domain, some of you may be wondering. It is related to copyright. Copyright protection of a literary, artistic, or musical work in the United States lasts 95 years. A number of books, as well as films and music, that were <a href="https://hyperallergic.com/535370/the-books-films-and-songs-entering-the-public-domain-in-2020/" target="_blank">copyrighted</a> in 1924 are now copyright free as of January 1, 2020. This means that these classics can be legally accessed, remixed, and republished by the general public. Full text of the books will now be available on <span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8);">Internet Archive, HathiTrust, and Google Books, not just snippets of the books. </span><br />
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Some books in the article are listed here:<br />
<ul style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: freight-text-pro, "Times New Roman", Times, Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.05em; letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em auto 1.05em; max-width: 630px; padding-left: 1.5rem;">
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em;">Pablo Neruda, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Twenty-Poems-Despair-Spanish-English/dp/0143039962/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36YTXGI8J31VE&keywords=twenty+love+poems+and+a+song+of+despair&qid=1578032090&sprefix=Twenty+love+%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair</a></em></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em;">Agatha Christie, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Man-Brown-Suit-Agatha-Christie-ebook/dp/B0839QNZ59/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=Agatha+Christie%2C+The+Man+in+the+Brown+Suit&qid=1578032642&sr=8-5" target="_blank">The Man in the Brown Suit</a></em></span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em;">E.M. Forster, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Passage-India-M-Forster/dp/0156711427/ref=sr_1_2?crid=DW299SD78XLE&keywords=passage+to+india&qid=1578032179&sprefix=passage+to+%2Caps%2C222&sr=8-2" target="_blank">A Passage to India</a></em></span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px 0px 0.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em;">Eugene O’Neill, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Desire-Under-Elms-Eugene-ONeill/dp/0981967345/ref=sr_1_7?crid=3FM1E6PO3EQNP&keywords=desire+under+the+elms&qid=1578032252&sprefix=Desire+under+the+e%2Caps%2C218&sr=8-7" target="_blank">Desire Under the Elms</a></em></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); letter-spacing: 0.1679999977350235px;">Will you be reading any of these books? 📚 I have long been a fan of Agatha Christie. That’s the one I would love to access. </span></span></div>
Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-15772338149879816432019-10-19T06:50:00.000-04:002019-12-28T10:01:48.056-05:00Teens’ Choices: Top 10 Favorite Books 2019This is the <a href="http://www.ala.org/yalsa/teenstopten" target="_blank">2019 list of best books</a> for young adults. I love that one of my favorites is there: Children of Blood and Bone, the first of a trilogy by Tomi Adeyemi.Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-83973979478030456822019-06-16T08:10:00.000-04:002019-06-16T08:10:20.991-04:00Another favorite WriterI found a new author who I like and that I can recommend. She is Lisa Jewell, a British writer whose books don’t seem to fit into any one genre. One thing they have in common is family drama. I started off my Jewell reading experience with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Then-She-Was-Gone-Novel-ebook/dp/B074MDD3H6/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1US5IFQ9AKCNC&keywords=lisa+jewell+books&qid=1560685833&s=gateway&sprefix=Lisa+Jewell%2Caps%2C182&sr=8-4" target="_blank">Then She Was Gone</a>, a murder mystery. That was the hook. Since then I have read The Third Wife, The Girls in the Garden, Roommates Wanted, I Found You, and Before I Met You. That’s six books altogether. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Before-I-Met-You-Novel-ebook/dp/B00C8UJ1E6/ref=pd_sim_351_2/144-1889545-5761716?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00C8UJ1E6&pd_rd_r=5f25aa06-902e-11e9-bd2f-f9fbdb80feb9&pd_rd_w=7wYze&pd_rd_wg=5bIVv&pf_rd_p=a098ee4c-2e0f-4821-b463-d4b049053104&pf_rd_r=S0ZPPT1E6Q1FNE03AM83&psc=1&refRID=S0ZPPT1E6Q1FNE03AM83" target="_blank">Before I Met You</a> started off really slowly but eventually I got into the story and really loved it.Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-2860459993587356942018-12-24T10:44:00.001-05:002019-12-28T12:20:30.452-05:00Some Books I Read in 2018We did not meet often this year and I did not keep track of the books we read together in 2018. A really good book we selected in September was, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bakers-Secret-Stephen-P-Kiernan/dp/0062369598/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1545664540&sr=8-1&keywords=Baker%E2%80%99s+Secret" target="_blank">The Baker’s Secret by Stephen Kiernan.</a> I am sure we read more books. If I can recall them later, I will share.<br />
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I read other books on my own that I loved: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Night-Camp-David-Fletcher-Knebel/dp/0525567100/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1545664683&sr=8-1&keywords=Camp+David" target="_blank">Night</a> of Camp David by Fletcher Knebel. This was a book published in the 1960s. It became so popular this year, it was published again in November.<br />
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This was a year of political books. I only read two out of curiosity but they turned out to be really good: A <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Higher-Loyalty-Truth-Lies-Leadership/dp/1250192455/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1545665023&sr=8-1&keywords=Comey" target="_blank">Higher Loyalty </a> by James Comey and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Michelle-Obama/dp/1524763136/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1545665160&sr=8-1&keywords=becoming+michelle+obama" target="_blank">Becoming</a> by Michelle Obama.<br />
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Becoming was divided into 3 parts and written in a conversational tone. It consisted of stories about finding and maintaining balance. Balancing work and personal values; balancing marriage, work, and parenting; balancing the pursuit of passion with the pursuit of work success resonated with readers, in my opinion. That’s one reason it’s a bestseller. The stories were also about finding her voice and maintaining her authentic voice as a spouse of a politician who also happened to have been President.<br />
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Here are two more books that I really enjoyed, An <a href="https://www.amazon.com/American-Marriage-Novel-Oprahs-Selection/dp/1616208775/ref=asc_df_1616208775/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312065522531&hvpos=1o5&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10341098522989527832&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9011296&hvtargid=pla-444655618754&psc=1" target="_blank">American</a> Marrage by Tayari Jones and Children of Blood & Bone, the first of a trilogy by Toni Adeyemi.Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-83191992101278334822017-12-31T14:42:00.001-05:002017-12-31T14:42:28.347-05:00Top Library Checkouts for 2017Link here for the popular library checkouts: <a href="https://www.nypl.org/blog/2017/12/22/nypl-top-checkouts-2017?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=referral" target="_blank">New York Public Library</a> 📚 These 2 are going to be on my <b>What Will I Read Next? </b>list:<br />
<ol style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #36322d; font-family: Lato, "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans Unicode", Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 40px;">
<li><em>The Handmaid's Tale</em> by Margaret Atwood</li>
<li> <em>Commonwealth: A Novel</em> by Ann Patchett</li>
</ol>
Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-37530238707670730332016-06-24T15:52:00.000-04:002016-06-24T15:55:32.036-04:00Book Club Selections 2016, January - June<div dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
What have you been reading this year? These are the books we have selected and discussed at the bookclub this year. I have enjoyed them all but my favorite so far is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ordinary-Grace-William-Kent-Krueger/dp/1451645856/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1466797787&sr=1-1&keywords=Ordinary+Grace" target="_blank">Ordinary Grace.</a><br />
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January 15 - The <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Boston-Girl-Novel-Anita-Diamant/dp/1439199361/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1466797434&sr=1-1&keywords=boston+girl" target="_blank">Boston Girl</a> </b>by Anita Diamant; writer of The Red Tent, a book club pick many, many years ago that we loved. This is historical fiction. Jewish girl coming of age story. (336 pages).</div>
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February 19 - <b>October </b><b>List </b>by Jeffrey Deaver; the book starts with the end and is filled with twists and turns. <a href="http://www.jefferydeaver.com/novel/the-october-list/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">http://www.jefferydeaver.com/novel/the-october-list/</a> </div>
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March 18 - <b>Ordinary </b><b>Grace </b>by William Kent Kreuger; small town murder 1961 setting. </div>
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April 15 - <b>Gray Mountain </b>by John Grisham.<br />
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May 19 - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Murder-House-James-Patterson/dp/145558990X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1466797546&sr=1-1&keywords=Murder+House" target="_blank">Murder House</a> by James Patterson and David Ellis.<br />
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June 16 - <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Room-Lincoln-Child/dp/0307473759/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1466797609&sr=1-1&keywords=Forgotten+Room" target="_blank">Forgotten Room </a> by Lincoln Child.<br />
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What will we read next? Stay tuned.</div>
</div>
Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-40024830722181590952015-11-21T15:22:00.002-05:002015-11-21T15:35:33.395-05:00Book Club Selections for 2015<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><b>Personally, I highly recommend the books by Sam Thomas, Alyson Richman, and Anthony Doerr </b></span></span><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">February 20</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kings-Deception-Cotton-Malone/dp/0345526554/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426445131&sr=1-1&keywords=king%27s+deception" style="color: #5dc2c0;" target="_blank">The King’s Deception</a> by Steve Berry</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><b>March 20</b></span><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Wife-Alyson-Richman/dp/042524413X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426445049&sr=1-1&keywords=lost+wife" style="background-color: white; color: #7c93a1; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">The Lost Wife</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"> </span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">by Alyson Richman </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">April 17</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Midwifes-Tale-Mystery-Sam-Thomas/dp/1250038340/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426445333&sr=1-2&keywords=midwife%27s+tale" style="color: #7c93a1; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">MidWife's Tale</a><b> (Midwife's Mysteries #1) </b>by Sam Thomas. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><b>May 15</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Oath-Dismas-Hardy-Book/dp/0451207645/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1425135240&sr=8-4&keywords=the+oath" style="color: #7c93a1; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Oath</a> by John Lescroart </div>
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<b>June 19</b></div>
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The Harlot's Tale by Sam Thomas</div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;">July 17</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent;">Leaving Time by Jodie Picoult</span></div>
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<b>August 28</b><br />
Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman<br />
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No meeting in September.<br />
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<b>October 16</b><br />
When the Lion Feeds by Wilbur Smith<br />
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<b>November 20</b><br />
All the World We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr<br />
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<br />Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-54682909637119695882015-10-31T12:20:00.000-04:002015-11-01T19:57:43.468-05:00Louise Penny's Latest Book and Project Babylon I am reading the latest Penny book in the Inspector Gamache series, <b>Nature of the Beast</b>. I first became hooked on this series because of the book club. Still Life was Penny's first book. In this book a 9 year old child, with a vivid imagination, from the village of Three Pines has been murdered. The Surete du Quebec is in Three Pines to investigate this murder that was set up to appear as if it were an accident.<br />
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After reading every one of Penny's books, the characters have become like familiar friends. The usual quirky characters are present such as Ruth, the crazy poet; Myra, the psychologist turned bookseller; Clara, the insecure and talented artist; Gabri and his partner Olivier, owners of the local Bistro/guest house. Some of the characters from the Surete that we met in previous books are present to investigate the murder; Beauvoir and Lacoste. My guess is that the new, young, arrogant officer Favreau, introduced in this book,may appear in a future book in the series.<br />
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Right now I am on page 109 and this murder mystery has now led me into the world of Project Babylon, a supergun created by Gerald Bull, with links to Saddam Hussein and the biblical Whore of Babylon. The "OMG" moment is that this supergun and Canadian-born <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/26/magazine/the-man-behind-iraq-s-supergun.html?pagewanted=all" target="_blank">Gerald Bull</a> and the link to Saddam Hussein are factual. Fascinating.<br />
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Penny likes to sprinkle literary references in her books; usually poems. This one has references to songs, poetry, and to biblical verses. "By the waters of Babylon...." words from the Bible come up often. The biblical words put to song by a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDYAqz603TE" target="_blank">Jamaican group, the Melodians,</a> is a favorite of mine.<br />
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<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thenextchapter/louise-penny-david-a-robertson-and-debra-komar-1.3253873/louise-penny-on-the-nature-of-the-beast-1.3253874" target="_blank">Fans of Louise Penny, you will enjoy this interview with the writer. </a>Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-12695310014845035392015-08-08T16:18:00.001-04:002015-10-31T11:24:21.795-04:00Books: Memories, Time, the SupernaturalIt suddenly occurred to me that the three books I have read recently had the following themes; memories and time plus the supernatural as a subtheme. I read two of the books for the book club, <b>Leaving Time </b>by Jodie Picoult and The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ocean-End-Lane-Novel/dp/0062255665/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1439061889&sr=8-1&keywords=neil+gaiman+ocean" target="_blank">Ocean at the End of the Lane</a> by Neil Gaiman. The other book, <b>Slave Time</b>: <b>Midnight </b>was a gift from the writer, Howard Potts. Really, it's just a coincidence that they all had similar themes and I read them one after the other. <br />
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<a href="http://okebookclub.blogspot.com/2015/07/leaving-time-by-jodie-picoult.html" target="_blank">Leaving Time</a> was about Jenna recalling childhood memories and what happened to her mother. Also included in the story was the incredible memory of elephants. And one character just happened to be a psychic. A good portion of <a href="http://okebookclub.blogspot.com/2015/07/slave-time-midnight-novel-by-howard.html" target="_blank">Slave Time</a> was about Old Sam's childhood memories of slavery and the stories told to him as a child. Some of the stories were about his experiences as a young adult and included a meeting with a voodoo Queen of New Orleans, Madame Laveau.<br />
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I just finished reading Ocean at the End of the Lane, fantasy fiction for adult readers. It is the book club selection for August. This was not my favorite book. The main character drove to the Sussex country side where he grew up as a child, after being the speaker at a funeral. We are not told whose funeral. I thought that was odd. I thought I missed it and went to the beginning to reread. The main character has no name. Very odd. Anyway, once in the area of his childhood home, he looks for and finds a pond at the end of the lane that he remembers from his childhood. He remembers some strange magical incidents that happened when he was 7 years old.<br />
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"Memories were waiting at the edges of things, beckoning to me." The narrator was a sad, lonely, and imaginative child who loved to read. He found solutions to his problems in books. He recalls how he met 11 year old Lettie Hempstock, her Mom and grandmom, and was transported to a whole new "other" world. He recalls how he became the door that let the monster, Ursula Monkton, into his family's lives.<br />
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I am about to start an award winning book by Jamaican writer Marlon James, A <a href="http://www.penguin.com/newsroom/marlon-james-brief-history-seven-killings-named-winner-american-book-award/" target="_blank">Brief history of Seven Killings</a>. If this book turns out to have the themes memories, time, and magic (the supernatural), then I think the universe is telling me something.Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16570433.post-85522684918224942032015-07-25T10:23:00.002-04:002015-07-25T10:23:45.071-04:00Slave Time: Midnight a novel by Howard PottsImagine my surprise when author and former colleague, Howard Potts, sent me my own autographed copy of his new book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Slave-Time-Midnight-Howard-Potts/dp/0996489398/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437831621&sr=8-1&keywords=slave+time" target="_blank">Slave Time</a>. This book was inspired by real life slave stories as told to interviewers involved in the <a href="http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/snhtml/snintro00.html" target="_blank">Federal Writers' Project</a> of the Works Project Administration (WPA) in the 1930s.<br />
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I just started reading and am on page 55. Tom Smart is the interviewer in the story, raised in the North, who is sent to Georgia and Alabama to interview former slaves. Tom thought his calling was to interview congressmen, senators, and presidents. This was the depression period; Tom had to take this job interviewing elderly black people in the Deep South. Some of these former slaves were too old to remember life back then in great detail and some were suspicious of white interviewers from the North digging into their family history. Tom, however, hit the jackpot when he was directed to Old Sam Worthington who had a great memory, was known in the area as a storyteller and was willing to share his stories. Old Sam told his own first hand experiences plus the stories that were told to him as a child. For example, he was told that he was born into slavery on a day in 1833 when there was a <a href="http://www.space.com/9517-leonid-meteor-shower-revealed-shooting-star-show-brilliant-history.html" target="_blank">Great Leonid Meteor</a> and could relay this tidbit to Tom. He told the story of an African princess and her fellow villagers who were tricked into getting on a slave ship.<br />
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It's a fascinating book. It is very descriptive and would be of interest to history aficionados.Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193361197888445886noreply@blogger.com0