Christine's Weblog

Victorian society is one of those topics that never goes out of style in fiction.  For example, in these last couple of years there's been a hit YA series called The Luxe; in adult fantasy, the new book Soulless is garnering praise and good sales.  So I hope it's not out of place to post a non-fiction review here.

The De-Moralization of Society: From Victorian Virtues to Modern Values is basically the author, Gertrude Himmelfarb's, vehicle for complaining about modern-day morals.  She makes the outrageous and offensive claim in the conclusion that statistics on date rape and child abuse are "inflated" and made up by liberal social workers (with, of course, no data to back herself up), and unequivocally states that marriage makes the only good family type.  To a liberal like me, that part of the book is boring at best and insulting at worst.

However, that part of the book is thankfully only the introduction and conclusion.  She spends the rest of the book talking about life in Victorian England, from every-day life in different classes to the ideas of smaller subcultures.  It's a wonderful overview of the time, and an unusually positive one, since her thesis is that Victorian values were better than modern-day ones.  Given that so much writing about the time either romanticizes the upper classes (particularly in fiction) or villianizes the repressive laws and the treatment of the lower classes, this book was a very interesting, unique look at the Victorian era.

Thus, I heartily recommend this book to people interested in everything Victorian.  It's informative and well written, not dull or dry like so many non-fiction books.  If you're conservative, you might agree with her arguments as well, but even if you're not, there's a lot to enjoy.

Overall: 3 stars out of 5.

(By the way, I'm writing my own novel, Beau and the Beast, about a young man who falls into the lair of a dangerous beast only to find that he gets along with her quite well, at a page a day in my journal.  If you're interested in fantasy, come on over; I love comments, including critical ones!)

Following the cut is fifteen short book reviews on subjects mostly either fiction, cooking, or self-help. Is that sentence grammatically correct? Not sure. A majority of the other books I read this year were fantasy series which I may review later. Anyway, here: ( Read more... )

Just posted Review: Girl, Aloud by Emily Gale

Hi All,

Today, I am delighted to welcome real-life partners in crime Donald and Renee Bain to Hartford Boos Examiner as part of the Holiday Book Giveaway. They collaborate on the bestselling MURDER, SHE WROTE book series and are giving away a copy of MURDER NEVER TAKES A HOLIDAY--and sharing Jessica Fletcher's recipe for Maine Lobster Pie.

The book is a compendium of two earlier novels--Manhattans & Murder and A Little Yuletide Murder. The former finds Jessica in the big city, where she witnesses the shooting death of a sidewalk Santa, while the latter returns Jessica to cozy Cabot Cove, Maine, where she is forced to look into the small town’s past to discover a motive for murder. Both are Christmas capers that will delight long-time fans and new readers alike.

Check it out: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-3859-Hartford-Books-Examiner~y2009m12d18-Day-10.

TGIF!

John

Just posted Review: Curse the Dawn by Karen Chance

Hi All,

Today, I am pleased to host author Michael Keller, who will be giving away a signed copy of LIFE IN A WEEK: A BOOK ABOUT BEING REALLY HAPPY as part of my Holiday Book Giveaway Extravaganza. The book is an introspective journey that will remind readers to make the best of every day—and to have fun doing it. Written as a conversation between author and reader, Keller offers personal reflections that exemplify life’s ability to serve as an endless pursuit of ideas and experiences, all of which can lead to greater self-fulfillment. Additionally, he provides simple but poignant daily thoughts that empower readers to adapt their perceptions of the world positively.

Enter to win a copy: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-3859-Hartford-Books-Examiner~y2009m12d17-Day-9.

John

The book's premise: ( Read more... )

The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, Version 2.0 by Christopher Moore


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Update: 12/16/09 - This hilarious read was an even better hearing. My only suggestion is that you don't listen to this at work unless you can keep your door closed. I had forgotten that there was a lot of mention of body parts and the f-word so I was constantly turning the volume down.

I picked up this book to listen to while inputting data and to get me in the Christmas spirit. Not sure how zombies and schizophrenic B movie warrior actresses was supposed to do that, but it was still a good way to help past the time.

This was the first Christopher Moore book I read. I could not stop laughing. It took me three days to read it because I do work and have other things going on in my life.

Nothing like zombies on Christmas Eve, a talking dog (well, he doesn't talk per se but he does get well represented by dog thought), a really, really stupid angel, and a schizophrenic former B-list Xena type actress.

If you need a good laugh, definitely pick up this book. It's totally worth it.

View all my reviews >>

Hi All,

Today I welcome Peter Brooks to Hartford Books Examiner. He is offering FIVE copies his book, GOD'S LOVE IS A TWO WAY STREET. The book is a collection of short retrospective essays in which Peter draws upon the life experiences that have helped to shape who he is today--even if he didn’t realize it at the time. Some are poignant and some are funny, but each teaches a valuable lesson about the resiliency of the human spirit and the importance of faith. Forthright but never preachy, the author asks only that readers keep an open mind as they journey along with him through the everyday moments that hold invaluable opportunities for learning.

Check it out: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-3859-Hartford-Books-Examiner~y2009m12d16-Day-8.

John

Spoilers.

I love the Twilight Saga. I'm not very highbrow in my taste in literature. I read what I find absorbing, the first three books in the Twilight Saga included.

However, the fourth book, I'm almost out of words. Almost. There are times when "it sucks" just wont suffice, like when you're talking about Breaking Dawn, the last, the least (though not in volume what with its 1 million odd pages) of the series.

The plot is predictable, and that's not the worst of it. If anything, that is its charm and Stephenie Meyer should have stuck with the formula that worked so well for her in the past, instead of trying something new.

It has all the elements of cute, which makes it, well, cute. That is, until Meyer over estimated her writing prowess and attempts, in vain, to turn it into an epic of sorts. What used to be a straightforward, cute, teen vampire romance book, morphed into this baffling hybrid fantasy, action, adventure, fake passport-producing suspense, sci-fi mess which all takes place in the last 4 or so chapters.

The story lines are linear and yet it manages to be unnecessarily wordy and utterly chaotic. Every tedious line just screams "trying hard!"

Bella is unremarkably flat even for a teen romance novel protagonist. Which is pretty believable and even tolerable. That is, until she transforms into a vampire and you sort of expect something more...more activity...more dimensions. Her mind remains frustratingly shallow. Its not very pleasant, considering most of the book is written through her perspective.

Edward is both underused and misused. So for those such as I whose sole reason for reading is to get a much needed Edward Cullen fix I would say don't bother. If you must then I advice that you stop reading the book after the feathers. You'll know what I'm talking about when you get to that part. It really is such a shame, the meager times when he is in a scene he seems more like a parody, a camp version of the Edward I so dearly loved from the 1st 3 books.

I don't know what Stephenie Meyer was on when she wrote the ending for Breaking Dawn but like all mind altering drugs, it took her on a different plane of existence where everything, no matter how mindless, makes absolute sense. Its just too much. When you've already suspended your disbelief enough to accommodate the existence of a vampire who looks like an underwear model, she strings together an ending like THAT! It will leave you thinking "wtf?" Not the good kind of wtf, mind you.

Suddenly all the vampires in the world converge in Forks and they all go through vampire boot camp to prepare for a looming vampire war and each of their vampire super power more ridiculous than the next. When time comes for the good vampires to come face to face with the bad vampires, its already snowballed into to this insane spectacle that you'd half expect Gandalf et al. and maybe even the Harry Potter crew to arrive, brandishing wands. Nothing will surprised you now, or so you thought because this previously unheard of vampire breaks into a corny, impromptu speech about love and how love is all that matters and love is all around and love makes the world go 'round and love conquers all.

Oh, then Bella's measly power, which was hinted in earlier chapters, develops exponentially right on time for her to end up saving everydamnedone's damned lives. Edward can now read her mind when she lets him, they fool around, and they lived happily ever after, forever and ever.

PS. They had a freaky baby girl that she named Renesmee. What'd I tell you? Crazy!

I apologize in advance if this kind of post isn't allowed.

I am now the owner of a brand new hardcover set of the Percy Jackson and The Olympians series. Unfortunately, I already own these books. I'm looking to donate them, as well as a couple dozen books from my Children's Lit. class.

Does anyone know of any children's charities that will accept them? I would like to give them away to a Christmas-based charity, but that's not a necessity.

I live in the Houston, Texas area.

I've already called Barnes and Noble, but they only accept donations that have been purchased in-house.

Thank you,
Emily

Cross-posted to bookish.

The Unnamed
Joshua Ferris
Fiction; Contemporary Literature

After Ferris’ Then We Came to the End, which was short-listed for the 2008 National Book Award, it was immediately clear this was an author with no problem breaking the literary rules in order to tell a story in his own unique fashion, and this second novel takes that wonderfully creative rebellion even further. A thoroughly original subject, a choppy yet somehow seamless timeline, and swinging points of view only serve to strengthen this powerful story’s impact.

Tim Farnsworth seems to have everything a man could ask for – good looks, health, a wildly successful legal career, and a beautiful, intelligent wife who loves him more after twenty years of marriage than when they first met. The only problem is Tim’s bizarre, undiagnosable disorder: a compulsion to walk. Sounds innocuous enough, but we’re not talking about leisurely strolls in the park here. Rather, every few years, just when he thinks he’s conquered it, a maddening urge returns. He warns his wife: “It’s back,” drops whatever he’s doing, and starts walking – miles and miles and miles, across endless counties and states, trudging on and on, disappearing in plain sight for months and years at a time. His wife Jane lives in a state of apprehension and a forced readiness to drop her own life at a moment’s notice and go find him – hunting him down in parks, ditches, and hospitals. Because he doesn’t just walk. He walks until he literally cannot stand up anymore, almost killing himself in the bargain, lying down in the freezing snow, collapsing in a flooded ravine, or waking in an alleyway to find himself being assaulted.

Jane, battered emotionally by the uncertainty of what each day will bring, the fear of one day losing him – literally – forever, is poignantly torn between her intense love for her husband, her determination to stick with him and conquer – or at least live with – this demon, and her understandable desire to do a little walking herself, far away, to a normal life. There is a scene in a grocery store in which she’s so drawn to a complete stranger that she has to put down her groceries and leave, frightened by the emotions that tear at her. There is no one to turn to and nowhere to go for help. Doctors are baffled, and co-workers and friends are first sympathetic, then uncomfortable, and finally out of patience. It’s a battle these two people fight both together and alone as we follow them through the years.

Wrapped around the tragic compulsion of mental illness, it’s ultimately a story about the bonds we form with each other and just how far those bonds can be stretched without breaking. Amazingly far, when we care enough…or too much? The conclusion is searing and unforgettable, and I found myself letting out a deep, slightly shaky breath as I put it down. Ferris is, in a word, brilliant, and this will surely put him up for more well-deserved accolades.

(available in hardcover January 2010)

Hi All,

Today, Hartford Books Examiner welcomes author/clinical psychologist Roberta Isleib as part of the Holiday Book Giveaway. She is donating TWO signed copies of PREACHING TO THE CORPSE--a seasonal murder mystery that features psychologist/advice columnist Rebecca Butterman, who has the unfortunate habit of stumbling upon dead, or nearly dead, bodies. Details: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-3859-Hartford-Books-Examiner~y2009m12d15-Day-7.

(Dr. Butterman's alter-ego, Dr. Aster, also shares some advice that just might help you to keep the peace this holiday season...)

John

Some of you may have noticed that there are a lot of trees in INDIGO SPRINGS. Most are huge, contaminated, crazily overgrown trees, located near the center of the magical spill in Oregon and full of mutated animals to boot.

Ever felt a tad bit guilty about the effects your reading passions may have upon the ecosystem? Well, so has A.M. Dellamonica (aka planetalyx) so she's hosting a little challenge.

And while I may be a new aquaintence of hers here (completely coincidentally she happened to be a "real life" friend of a friend!) I can say without any coersion from her that this is easily my favorite book of 2009. If you haven't read it yet, check it out!





"A lot of trees also went into the making of INDIGO SPRINGS, the physical artifact. Put another way, books (of the non "e" kind, anyway) are made of forest. In recognition of this fact, I am planting twenty-five trees, through Eco-Libris, an organization that plants trees in Nicaragua, Belize, Honduras, Panama and Malawi. Here's a snippet from their web site:

We don't believe in preaching doom and gloom. It’s not our style. We do believe in taking action and in the power of small changes to make a big impact.

How is this a contest? Here's the answer: whenever Eco-Libris plants a tree on your behalf, you get a sticker to put inside the book, to indicate you've balanced it out. I have these stickers in hand. I'm going to autograph them and send them to the first twenty-five people to:

1) Tweet or otherwise post this contest announcement.
2) Let me know: e-mail me your mailing address c/o alyx (at) sff (dot) net so I can send out the autographed sticker.


*FYI, this one's open to anyone. I'll let you know when the contest closes.

Twenty five books, twenty-five trees. Spread the word, folks, and thanks!"

Batman: Arkham Asylum by Grant Morrison


My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I really wanted to LOVE this graphic novel, since I'm such a Batman/Joker fangirl. But the story itself didn't really do anything for me. It just seemed weird. Batman's just going to waltz into Arkham and randomly the inmates are going to either show up and flaunt their craziness or attack him? And then walk out? And chit chat with the Joker? Something was off about that. The artwork was splendidly creepy, though; I really loved it. The stuff about Arkham himself was good, as well. Overall, I just didn't have a WOW reaction to it. I prefer to jump on my Playstation and play the video game Arkham Asylum.

View all my reviews >>

The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This novel was great and disappointing at the same time. Great, because Updike's writing style was very easy to get wrapped up in. Loved the idea of these women and their "cone of power" doing both good and evil. It was disappointing because I kept comparing it to the movie. I know I shouldn't have, but it's been one of my favorites and I couldn't control my brain. Therefore the story left much to be desired. It didn't really seem to me as if the witches "summoned" Van Horne, he just showed up and left. Very anticlimactic.

View all my reviews >>

Source

Published On Sat Dec 12 2009

For Peter Watts, life can be stranger than science fiction.

Watts – who has written six such books – was on his way back to Toronto last Tuesday after helping a friend move to the U.S. Before crossing the Blue Water Bridge into Sarnia, American customs officers pulled him over. He says when they began rifling through his car and luggage, he got out. They ordered him back in the car; he asked what was going on.

What happened next has become the talk of the blogosphere: Watts too has waded in on it, posting that he was assaulted, punched in the face, pepper-sprayed and thrown in jail for the night, only to find that he was the one charged – with assaulting a customs officer.

Customs officials told the Star Watts was given directions "and became non-compliant...he did not follow directions and a physical altercation" ensued.

An officer with the Port Huron police told the local newspaper that Watts "angrily" got out of the rental car and when he refused to get back in, they tried to cuff him and he became "aggressive." In the melee, police said, Watts "choked" a customs officer.

"As a result of that he was detained and turned over to local authorities," says Ronald Smith, chief customs and border protection officer at Blue Water, adding officers were conducing "outbound operations" stopping and inspecting vehicles after the toll booths but before they hit Canadian customs.

Watts empatically denies any such action.

"I can state categorically that I did not choke anybody, I did not use profanity and did not raise my voice, I did not initiate any physical contact," says Watts, who is also a marine biologist with a PhD in zoology.

"All I basically did was use words to ask what was going on."

Now, friends are raising funds online to help Watts to help him cover his legal costs, which he says are overwhelming for someone who makes a living as an author.

Fellow sci-fi writer Cory Doctorow, who blogged about the incident at boingboing.net, chipped in $1,000 right off the bat – and while no one will say how much has been raised in total, friend David Nickle said it's enough to get Watts through the first hurdle. Should the case go to trial, friends will arrange a fundraiser.

"It's a bit like trying to figure out the mindset of a grizzly bear," Watts said when asked why officers attacked him.

Watts' next court appearance is Dec. 22. If eventually convicted, it's a felony charge that could see him imprisoned for two years and a possible fine of up to $2,000.

Watts had driven to Nebraska with a friend to help a retired University of Toronto professor move there, but their rental car had broken down. The two were driving a replacement car the rental agency had provided in the U.S.

After the incident, Watts' friend was arrested and interrogated, but not charged.

Watts, however, spent the night in jail, in the standard orange jumpsuit, and was released the next day on $5,000 bail. He was dropped off across the border at Canadian customs, without his coat – it was in the car, which was impounded – during a winter storm.

Watts is overwhelmed by the online donations, and jokes that while most people must be supportive, "it's quite possible that some people think I'm a ...jerk, but they hate homeland security more."

If more money is raised than he needs, it will be donated to charity, he said.

Among the many comments posted at boingboing.net, are some suggesting Watts must have had an attitude when dealing with customs.

"The question is what is attitude?" he said. "I've been told by cops in the system that the mere act of getting out of a car, the mere act of taking any action at all, not simply responding to an order...is considered attitude...what they take offence to is not necessarily what anyone else would find offensive."

Hi All,

Today, Hartford Books Examiner welcomes author Debbie Macomber (who has written more than 150 books!) as part of the Holiday Book Giveaway Extravaganza. She is sharing a recipe and one lucky reader will win a signed copy of THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS. Check it out: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-3859-Hartford-Books-Examiner~y2009m12d14-Day-6.

John

Hello guys,

I'd like to introduce you my latest bookish crush : the amazing TASCHEN book about Magic (Hardcover, 29 x 44 cm (11.4 x 17.3 in.), 650 pages, 7 kg), which celebrates more than 500 years of the dazzling visual culture of the world's greatest magicians.

This heavyweight book features more than 1,000 rarely seen vintage posters, photographs, handbills, and engravings as well as paintings by Hieronymus Bosch and Caravaggio among others, this 650-page volume traces the history of magic as a performing art from the 1400s to the 1950s.



(More pictures on FlickR)

It's just amazing, beautifully printed and richly illustrated. The texts are printed in English, German and French !

If you're interested in having a closer look at this unique masterpiece, you can leaf through the book to see how richly illustrated it is, and order it on TASCHEN's website :)

His personal style is characterized by an obsessive attention to details...
click on image to see and know more

Give Up the Ghost (2009)
Written by: Megan Crewe
Genre: YA/Paranormal
Pages: 244 (Hardcover)

The premise: from BN.com: Cass McKenna much prefers ghosts over “breathers.” Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody…and Cass loves dirt. She’s on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.

But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass’s whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.

As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim’s life, she’s surprised to realize he’s not so bad—and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it’s time to give the living another chance . . .

My Rating

Worth the Cash: which isn't bad for a hardcover. Crewe has a tendency to twist expectations a bit, and every time I thought something major was resolved in the book, Crewe turned that resolution n its head and let it lead into more interesting territory. It's a good story for anyone who's ever felt out of place, especially in high school, because Cass's story is about not just finding her place (and trust me when I say it's NOT about finding her place in the normative social cliques), but about Cass finding a way to interact with the real world again, instead of just the world of ghosts. I personally would like to see Cass's story continue, because while she grows and changes in this book, I feel like it's time for her to make a change in her world, and her ability to interact with ghosts is just the way to do it. This is an incredibly fast, fast read. I finished it in less than a day, and I'll be very happy to pick up Crewe's next offering, whatever it might be. As a writer, Crewe shows a lot of promise, so it'll be exciting to see what she does next.

Review style: expect spoilers, simply because it's a short book and the things I want to talk about are directly related to the more spoilerific aspects of the book. If you want to remain clean, there's no need to click the link below. But if spoilers don't bother you, or you want to chat about the book, the come on over! Comments and discussion are always welcome.

REVIEW: Megan Crewe's GIVE UP THE GHOST

Happy Reading!

Book club selections @ calico_reaction. Hop on over! We'd love to have you!

December: The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
January: The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson