This 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.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Happy holidays I will be reading...
Enjoy the holidays y'all.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Curiosity + Library Book = Success for William Kamkwambe
The idea to harness the wind did not come up until page 153. This means quite a bit of the book is about William's life in Malawi: the traditions, the superstitions, the poverty, and the hunger. I was eating while reading about William's intense hunger and had to skip a few pages. This is a book that will awaken all kinds of emotions: anger at the indifference of government, horror at the awful famine, and tears of joy when William's story receives attention from the Malawian journalists.
This is the story of a curious innovative young man who discovered marvelous science books within a very disorganized library and did wonders for his family and community with his primitive creation.
Check out William's blog!
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Books into Movies: Lovely Bones
It is a story told from the point of view of a dead teenaged girl, Susie Salmon, from heaven. She watches from heaven how her family deals with her death and how they track her killer. Sounds morbid but it was extremely well written.
Having written about death, I feel like I should take a moment and pause to remember two men who passed this year; Buffalo Soldier and faithful Kiwanian Lester Young and faithful Rotarian Akinyele. May their souls rest in peace. It was a joy to have known them both in Waycross.
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
New Garwood Book: Sizzle
Go check out her really cool website for more information.
Friday, December 04, 2009
TOP Five Best Sellers
Going Rogue: An American Life by Sarah Palin
Eclipse, New Moon, Twilight, and Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
No big surprises there.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Butterfly Beauties
Friday, November 20, 2009
New Fall Fiction
The New Novels are Under the Dome by Stephen King, Ford County Stories by John Grisham; a collection of short stories, The Lacuna by Barbara Kingslover, and The Humbling by Philip Roth; referred to as "the most entertaining depressing book".
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
70 Years of Best Sellers 1895-1965
Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush by Ian Maclaren and The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope were bestsellers in 1895. That's the year that the first American Bestseller lists were published.
The Marriage of William Ashe by Mrs. Humphry Ward and The Gambler by Katherine Cecil Thurston were bestsellers in 1905 and Hackett says novels were beginning to write the new inventions into their plots: cars and wireless telegraphy.
An Austrian archduke was murdered in Sarajevo in 1914 and triggered a war in Europe and The Eyes of the World by Harold Bell Wright and Penrod by Booth Tarkington became bestsellers.
In 1940 the year Hitler and the Nazis attacked England, How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn and Country Squire in the White House by John T. Flynn were bestsellers.
Interesting 280 page book written by Hackett and published in 1967.
Monday, November 09, 2009
Andre Agassi's Memoir
Read about Andre Agassi's book appropriately called, Open: An Autobiography. I hope Chris Rock took note that Agassi was obsessed about his hair. I also like what he said in the interview in USA Today,
"The true Andre. I continually change and differ and grow, but this is my look at who I was and who I became. But it's ever-evolving".
We are all evolving. Good thing to remember when we come across some folks with whom we can not stand to be in the same room. When they evolve and change, you may want to have them back in your life.
Friday, November 06, 2009
New Cookbooks
Some of the other books featured in People are The Pleasures of Cooking for One , Ad Hoc at Home, and Bubby' Brunch Cookbook.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Book Club Selections
January 15
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by William Kamkwamba
February 19
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
March 19
If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino
Monday, October 26, 2009
I am reading Steve Berry
I am finally getting a chance to read Steve Berry's 2007 book, The Alexandria Link. Yes, I am behind because Steve Berry already has information on his web page about another book to be released in December 2009 ... The Paris Vendetta.
I am only on page 39 of The Alexandria Link. So far, I know it has something to do with the conflict between the Jews and the Arabs. It starts in Palestine when the State of Israel is about to be reestablished. I know that the protagonist, Cotton Malone, has been targeted by the bad guys because he knows some secret and the US government is involved. I feel like I am reading a mystery thriller that is a cousin to The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. This is because some of the same key words have come up already: order/chaos, puzzles/codes, and secrets.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Okefenokee Book Club Selections 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
New Book by Jeanette Walls
Monday, October 19, 2009
Book Club Selection
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Brief review of The Lost Symbol
The transformation theme is the primary focus: transformation of a cube into a cross, transformation of body and soul, transformation of the world through human thought, and the transformation of man into God. We learn, in this novel, about symbols of death and transformation and the alchemicals that facilitate transformation.
The theme of secrecy was equally fascinating: secret underground locations in Washington D. C., secret pyramids that reveal secret locations, secret symbols that reveal lost secret words with magical powers, the Masons - a society with secrets rather than a secret society. In this novel some secrets are hidden and some are in the open waiting to be noticed and interpreted.
I loved the combination of science and mysticism in this novel. I loved the revelation of secrets of the buildings and the artwork within the buildings of Washington, D.C.
The way the novel focused on Noetic Science at the beginning of the book, I was led to believe that at least one character would use his or her mind to transform events but that did not happen.
Key words in this novel are: Apotheosis, Ancient Mysteries, Apocalypse or enlightenment, and Circumpunct. I think that in the end, the writer wants us to think about those words.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Graphic Novels by Jeff Kinney
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Lost Symbol and Marilyn Schlitz
Sunday, October 11, 2009
The Lost Symbol
The basic storyline so far is simple in that Professor Robert Langdon has been tricked into going to meet his friend Peter Solomon at the Rotunda in the US Capitol. The mystery person who tricked him is referred to as a lunatic by the professor but he is obviously highly educated in symbolism. But this is Dan Brown so there are more complexities to this story: Ancient Mysteries - a body of knowledge that is dangerous in the wrong hands, the Masons - a society with secrets but not a secret society, an amputated hand with tatooed finger tips, symbols, pyramids, Noetic Science. I am loving it.
This has to be read slowly. There is much to learn. I think I will recommend it for our book club.
I found this link about the US Capitol and it is clear that Dan Brown has also read William Henry's book or similar works.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Silks - Book Club Selection
The main character is Geoffery Mason also known as Perry, as in Perry Mason, by his racing associates. This Mr. Mason is a lawyer and an amateur jockey. I am enjoying the legal aspects of this novel as Geoffery tries to defend jockey Steve Mitchell in court for the murder of another jockey called Scot Barlow also known as a snitch in jockey circles . I am enjoying the romance aspect as the vulnerable widow Geoffery falls in love with an attractive hardworking vet.
There seems to be a link with the suicide of Scot's sister and Scot's murder. There seems to be a link to a missing photo of Scot's sister and Scot's murderer. Geoffery Mason is under pressure from a thug named Julian Trent and Trent's unidentified accomplice, to deliberately lose the case. What is puzzling is that Geoffery gets beaten up and threatened by Julian from as early as page 52 but does not go to the police. I am on page 280 and I still don't know what the connection is with Julian, the murder victim and the accused.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Social Networking and Authors
Thursday, September 17, 2009
BooK club Selection for September
Did he jump, did he slip, or was he pushed? Isabel felt she had a moral obligation to find out. The word moral comes up a lot in this story as in moral responsibility and moral cowardice, for examples.
Anyway, Isabel discusses her concerns about the young man to her housekeeper Grace, her niece Cat and her niece's ex boyfriend Jamie. All agree that she should mind her own business. Of course, she doesn't.
Sounds like an interesting story? Well it wasn't. I would rate this 2 1/2 stars out of 5. It had lots of potential but the writer included too many irrelevant details and the end was not very satisfying to me.
Interestingly, the title is the Sunday Philosophy Club but the club, we are told, is inactive. What we got were several philosophical discussions about love, moral obligation, lying, poetry, gambing, truthtelling in sexual relationships, truthfulness in genetics, forgiveness. We also got some interesting points of view, cats are natural sociopaths for example.
Monday, September 07, 2009
Angel's Game
The most interesting characters are David and his mysterious parisian publisher who wore an angel broach, smiled like a wolf, and seemed to be the devil himself.
Worth reading if you like the gothic genre. I would actually give it 4 stars.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Philippa Gregory's new book
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Rachel Manley has a book signing
Interestingly, her grandparents Edna, famous Jamaican sculptor, and Norman were not only husband and wife, they were first cousins sharing a common grandmother. Can you imagine how scandalous that was at the time? I read the first book, Drumblair, and it was an eye opener if you are interested in the Manley family. One of Edna's carvings of Jesus on the cross stands in a prominent place in a church I used to visit often in Jamaica, All Saints Anglican Church on West Street.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Frank McCourt is dead
Friday, July 17, 2009
Thriller Awards 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Book Club Selection
This was a fascinating historical gothic thriller about destiny. It's about people and things that were meant to be connected. The setting is Barcelona, Spain from 1945 to 1966 but also looks back to the 1930s and the Spanish Civil War which occurred just before the World War. Love is a constant theme: forbidden love, romantic love, unrequited love, fatherly love, motherly love, love between friends, and love of books. However, hate and vengeance were always lurking in the shadows.
The story starts off with a 10 year old boy, Daniel, being taken by his father to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books; a labyrinth of passageways and bookshelves that store books that were no longer remembered by anyone. Daniel was told to adopt one of these forgotten books and make sure that the book would always stay alive. The whole thing was to be a secret even from his best friend Tomas. Daniel chose a book called The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax. He felt he was meant to be connected to this book. His fascination with finding out about the author from the age of 10 until his twenties, led him to a life of adventure filled with danger, fear, and love. We soon learn that one of the reasons that The Shadow of the Wind was so rare, was that someone had destroyed all other copies of Carax’s books.
The first sign that Daniel was about to embark on an adventure filled life because of the book, was when he looked out his window and saw the shadowy figure of one of the characters in the book, Lain Coubert also known as the devil. Who was Lain Coubert is one of the mysteries of the storyline.
Also as a child, Daniel became fascinated by a pen that was once allegedly owned by the writer Victor Hugo. Like the book, the pen linked Daniel to Carax and became part of his destiny. I would give this 5 stars.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
What to Read Next
I am sorry to say that I have never read any of these 50 books, not even Frankenstein by Mary Shelley which is on the list.
I also found an interesting Top 100 Books: The Meta-List in Newsweek online.
Friday, June 26, 2009
The King is dead 1958-2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Dr. Jerri Nielsen is dead
Monday, June 22, 2009
July 17 Book Club Selection
We have to put off Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet till August when we hope most people can get it to buy or borrow through Interlibrary loan.
Shadow is a long book, over 400 pages. One amazon reviewer says it is a mystery, a fairy tale, and several love stories all in one and suggests that the book should be read slowly and carefully. Hmmm.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
What to read for the rest of 2009?
Apparently Breadfruit is a sequel to Frangipani, the book I am now reading. Frangipani is mainly about Matarena's relationship with her only daughter. Again, there are unusual stories about Matarena's family that are quite funny. You can read each book on its own; you don't have to read them in sequence.
I personally feel that Breadfruit has the better stories. The third book about Matarena and her family is called Tiare.
So, if I am to make a list of books that I'd like to read for the rest of the year, I will have to include Tiare, and also Devil's Banker by Christoper Reich, and Northern Thunder by Andy Harp.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Okebookclub Selections 2009
January 16
Secret Life of Bees by Sue Kidd Monk
February 20
Dewey the Small town Library Cat by Vicki Myron
March 20
The Keepsake by Terri Gerritsen
April 17
March by Geraldine Brooks
May 15
Straight by Dick Francis
June 19
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
I am still hoping to get this book on our schedule:
July
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Global Citizens
Sunday, May 31, 2009
What do Presidents read?
I am no President but I am reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society and I highly recommend it even though I have just reached page 109.
It's about a writer named Juliet and the whole story is a collection of letters. Somebody on the island of Guernsey contacted Juliet about a book by Charles Lamb. He mentioned in his letter something about a roast pig leading to the start of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society during the period of the German occupation of the island in the 1940s. Naturally, Juliet had to write back to find out what was the connection between a roast pig and a literary sociey. Juliet decided that she wanted to write articles about the society so all the original members began writing to Juliet to tell her their perspective of the society and about the books they read. All wrote except one, Elizabeth, who is supposed to have been imprisoned by the Germans on the continent and though the war has ended, up to page 109, no one knows her fate. Juliet also got letters from Adelaide and also Clare Saussey. Their letters demean the members of the society.
In the meantime there seems to be a little romance growing between Juliet and a brash American publisher.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Monkey Hunting: A Novel
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Book Club Pick: An epistology
Friday, May 08, 2009
Elizabeth Edwards' Resilience
Book Buzz: Sisters & Husbands & More
USA Today's May 7 issue is also highlighting other new books:
My Remarkable Journey by Larry King
The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson
South of Broad by Pat Conroy
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Julie Garwood on YouTube
Friday, May 01, 2009
Book Club Selection May
I am now reading Dean Koontz's new book, Your Heart Belongs To Me. It is holding my interest so far but I am eager to know what the subtext is. He writes a lot about the subtext or deeper meaning of a novel. This has a low rating among readers in epinions.com and on amazon.com but so far I am deeply involved in the book.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Jude Deveraux or Dick Francis?
So here are our choices, on one hand we have historical romance fiction, Knight In Shining Armor
On the other hand, we have murder mystery, Straight. In addition Linda says, "How's this for an opening sentence: "I inherited my brother's life. Inherited his desk, his business, his gadgets, his enemies, his horses and his mistress. I inherited my brother's life, and it nearly killed me."
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet will be our June selection, giving our members time to get this newly published book (January, 2009).
Friday, April 17, 2009
What are you reading?
Take a look at this link that gives my tips for a successful life. What do you think?
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Hatshepsut
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Fan Fiction
Frankly, I am not enjoying March. Mr. and Mrs. March are not likeable characters and the story has too many uninteresting details some of the details about the civil war are gruesome. The story introduces Grace, a biracial slave, in the first chapter and I liked that the story links back to Grace at the end. I appreciate the detailed research that went into writing this novel but it was not an enjoyable read for me.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Celebrity Authored Books
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
World's Most Infamous Family: The Bin Ladens
Thursday, March 26, 2009
My Review: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Perseverance in adversity is a theme that runs throughout the story.
The setting is Seattle in 1986 but Henry flashes back to 1942 when he was 12 years old and also to 1945 when he was 15. The hotel referred to in the title is really called the Panama Hotel and it was owned by a Japanese man in the 1940s. In 1986 the new owner discovered personal items that once belonged to the Japanese residents in the area and had been hidden in the basement since the war years. The discovery brought back bittersweet memories for Henry.
Father-son relationship
Henry and his father had a language barrier and a cultural barrier. The language barrier was forced on Henry when his father forbade him from speaking Cantonese at home. At the same time, the parents spoke and understood very little English. The cultural barrier existed because the father was fixed in his traditional nationalistic way of thinking and behaving while Henry was American by birth.
Unfortunately, Henry repeated the pattern in his own life by re-creating the communication gap between himself and his own son. Henry’s wife acted as go-between for Henry and his son thus replicating the role that Henry’s mother played in his own childhood.
Forbidden love
We learn from the first page of the book that Henry was a devoted and loving husband. However, we also discover that Henry had a first love, a Japanese-American classmate named Keiko. This friendship which blossoms into youthful love is initially kept a secret because Henry's father hates the Japanese who are enemies of China and of America.
Japanese Internment
I think the writer painted a detailed picture of what life was like when Japanese-Americans were evacuated from their homes and forced into camps and also what life was like for Henry an Asian-American at home and at school during this period. Henry's father forced him to wear a button that said, I am Chinese, so that he would not be mistaken for Japanese by those who couldn't tell the difference.
Bonds of Friendship
Henry was a loyal friend to Keiko and her family but the friendship that really stands out in this story is the one between Henry and an African-American sax player, Sheldon. This is a friendship that lasted despite the differences in age and race. It was reinforced by their love of jazz.
Final Comments
I thought this historical fiction was told in a very loving and respectful manner. I would give it 4 ½ stars out of 5.
You can not help but be moved emotionally by the treatment of Japanese-Americans in the story, the bullying of Henry at school, and the bonds of friendship in the story.
I liked the writer's use of symbolism. I especially liked the symbolism of the ume tree on pages 82 -85. Ume is a Chinese tree that symbolized perseverance in adversity and this particular one mentioned in the book was grafted from a tree in a Japanese garden. A broken jazz record was also cleverly used as symbolic of the broken relationship of Henry and Keiko.
I liked the touch of humor when Henry deliberately mistranslates a conversation between his father and a Caucasian businessman.
The only thing I did not understand was why Henry's father wanted him to speak only English at home when his intention was to eventually send Henry to China for three to four years.
If you like multi-cultural stories you will enjoy this book. Find out more about this book on the author’s website http://www.jamieford.com/. The photos of the era that inspired this story are on the site: Japanese at Camp Harmony, the Panama Hotel, the No Japanese signs. Check it out.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Oke Book Club Selection
Friday, March 20, 2009
Jamie Ford's debut novel
What are you reading?
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Free Book on Wealth Management
Friday, March 13, 2009
Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Eat and Meet the Author - Andy Harp Part 11
Monday, March 09, 2009
Eat Pizza and Meet the Author - Andy Harp
Colonel Harp, a lawyer and resident of Columbus, Georgia will be the second guest author at the college. Gwen Roland, writer of Atchafalaya Houseboat:my years in the Louisiana Swamp, participated in the first Meet the Author event.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Books and Foods
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Jodie Picoult's Book to Movie
Cameron Diaz is one of the stars in the movie.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Book Club Selection - Keepsake
Friday, February 20, 2009
Much Ado About Books 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Get Yourself a "Soulmate'
Also plugging his self help book for women was Steve Harvey, one of my favorite comedians. He was a guest on Ellen DeGeneres' talk show yesterday talking about the book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man. I liked his presentation of the 90 day Rule. He says Ford requires 90 days of probation to get to know their employees, to see if they are worth keeping and so on. After the 90 days, the employees are entitled to benefits. He thinks women should do the same thing with men. His advice then is, Don't give men any benefits unless you have known them for at least 90 days. Furthermore, he says women should ask men early what their short term and long term plans are. Women should find out if men are just playing or if they are planning a future.
Friday, February 13, 2009
More of Find A Soulmate
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Jill Scott movie
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Freebie - ebook about President Obama
I am going to take some time to find out more about lulu.com's self publishing services. I may want to publish an ebook myself.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Freebie - ebooklet
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Freebie - Harlequin Ebooks
Friday, January 30, 2009
Author Buzz
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Freebies
Monday, January 26, 2009
Inaugural Poem
I was at work so I did not hear all of Elizabeth Alexander's poem at President Obama's inauguration. I found it at poets.org the title is Praise Song for the Day. According to shmoop.com a praise song is a traditional form of African poetry. Apparently, Alexander was praising the day as well as the people of America who built this country: those who laid the train tracks - the Chinese, those who picked the cotton - the Africans, those who picked lettuce - the Mexicans. Read the interesting interpretation on shmoop.com.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Inauguration Sermon
I also came across an article in the Jamaica Observer on Friday written by Barbara Gloudon, Jamaican journalist and radio talk show host. She had this prayer in the article for the new President:
"Not this time. Let us hear out this one, this time. Let us see the fulfilment of this dream. Let us step away from the ugliness... too much death, destruction, and dishonesty...too much loss of dignity. Time to respect ourselves and others. Time to sing a song of change, change to something better, cleaner, more life-affirming... Keep him safe".
Friday, January 23, 2009
Books into Movies
Young Adult Shelf
Chronicles of Narnia, YA PZ7.L58474
Inkheart, YA PZ7.F96624 In 2003
Tale of Despereaux, YA PZ8.D525 Tal 2003
Main Collection
Revolutionary Road, PZ4.Y335 Re6
Secret Life of Bees, PS3611.I44 S38 2002
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Love in Six Words
Let's see if I can get one of my own: Beloved, man with intelligence and integrity.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Free Book - 2009 Action Plan
The book is also mentioned in the book buzz on USA Today.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Book Club Meeting
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Ann Coulter on the View
Of course Ann's books have been best sellers, here is a list of her books found on amazon.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
New Book by Azar Nafisi
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
USA Today Staff's 10 Top Book Picks
Take a look at USA Today's Top 10 Books for 2008: Click here. What was your favorite book last year? Share your thoughts with us and with USA Today. USA Today has also chosen Stephenie Meyer, writer of the Twilight series, as the Author of the Year.
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