Unfinished: Post or No Post?

If you read enough, you'll eventually start a book with every good intention and with high hopes but then find that there is no way you'll ever finish it. What's a book blogger to do?

I have been thinking about this for several months. Last week, I decided that each abandoned book deserves a post of its own. So I wrote a kind of mini-review of a book I didn't finish: Deadly Nightshade by Cynthia Riggs.

I struggled a bit over the format of the post, and here's what I came up with. Although I always write my own summaries of the books I review, I used the publisher's blurb for Deadly Nightshade. How could I write a summary of a book I didn't finish? Next, I explained why I stopped reading (or, in this case, stopped listening). And finally, I hunted around for reviews so I could offer you (my readers) other opinions.

Here Are My Questions

⇒ Did my mini-review work? Were you interested in why I didn't finish?
⇒ If my post did not work, what should I do next time? (Not post? Provide different information?)
⇒ What do you do about books you don't finish?

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Thursday Tea (April 30)

Thursday Tea is hosted by Anastasia at Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog. Here's how it works: Tell us what tea you are drinking (and if you like it). And then tell us what book are you reading (and if you like it). Finally, tell us if they go together.




The Tea

I'm drinking Yunnan jig from Adagio Teas. They describe it this way: "Black tea from the Yunnan region of China. Yunnan tea is easily identified by its luscious soft leaves, and a unique peppery taste. . . . [It] is arguably the most underrated of Chinese varieties." This is a terrific tea and may be one of my new favorites.

The Book

I've just started listening to The Luxe by Anna Godbersen, a super YA novel about two high-society sisters in 1899 Manhattan. I was pretty much hooked within five minutes. The prologue seems to reveal the ending, so when the story proper starts, you are drawn in, and you must know how the characters end up in the situation described at the beginning. At just three chapters in, I can already tell that I'll have to read or listen to the entire series.

The Assessment

I imagine that high-class families in turn-of-the-century New York City would not be drinking ordinary tea, so neither should I when I'm immersed in their world! I'd say it was a great match.

What are you reading today? And even if it's not tea, what's in your mug or glass?

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Wordless Wednesday (April 29)

Private Door: The Begijnhof (Brugge)

For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

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Where Are You? / Teaser Tuesday (April 28)

When I was little and basking in the love of my father and his friends, I never imagined that I would someday be in Italy watching my fellow Canadians die of horrific battle wounds despite my best nursing skills. The war is over, and my regiment has moved on, but I cannot leave the burned man. I stay behind and care for him; I'm alone with Englishman for many months. One day, I look up and a man is walking down the hall: Caravaggio.

For more Where Are You? answers, visit Raidergirl3 at An Adventure in Reading.


MizB at Should Be Reading hosts Teaser Tuesdays. Here's how it works: Grab your current read; let the book fall open to a random page; and share 2 “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12. For more teasers, click on through to MizB's blog.

Moments before sleep are when she feels most alive, leaping across fragments of the day, bringing each moment into the bed with her like a child with schoolbooks and pencils. The day seems to have no order until these times, which are like a ledger for her, her body full of stories and situations. (pp. 35–36)

—Both from The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje

The English Patient at an Indie

The English Patient at Powell's

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Weekly Link Round-Up (April 27)

Here's what I was reading last week.

Book Sites

I visit three non-commercial book sites on a regular basis. Most of you will know about them, but if not, be sure to check them out.
⇒ For mystery lovers, don't miss Stop, You're Killing Me. This a great resource for titles, authors, and subgenres of mysteries.
⇒ For fiction of all sorts, try Fantastic Fiction, which is a great place to find authors and lists of all their works.
⇒ I go to World Cat any time I want to find details about a book: ISBN, editions, formats, translations, and more. (Note: you do not need to sign in to use the site.)

If there is a must-see general book site you visit on a regular basis, please let me know.

Reviews

I've been meaning to read The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld; now I think I'll have to read it soon. Jen at Devourer of Books was not sure it'd live up to the hype, but here's what she said: "Unlike with 'Twilight,' where I kept reading because I felt I had to, I’m going to continue reading this series because I want to."

Nely at All about {n} reviewed The Late Lamented Molly Marx by Sally Koslow. The premise of this is great: Molly is in limbo after her death and she can hear people's thoughts. Nely said: "I absolutely—hands down—adored this book. I thought Molly was such a lovely narrator."

Interview and Guest Post

Shelly at Write for a Reader does the best interviews, and this week she talked to two authors of the Horse Diaries series for young readers. Each book is the series is about a different horse in a different time period. Sounds like a great idea. Don't miss the interview.

Meghan of Medieval Bookworm has a guest post with Laurie Brown the author of What Would Jane Austen Do? This isn't your ordinary guest post: Brown mentions Dewey's Read-a-thon! Come see what else Brown has to say about her book and about time travel.

Blogwarming

Here's a super idea: Carrie of Books and Movies moved her blog (you know this because you read my link-up post last week!). This week, she's giving away six fabulous books as part of her blogwarming celebration. Don't miss out, there's a great selection.
________
Happy birthday, Mr. BFR!

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Audiobook Challenge: Wrap-Up

I have officially finished J. Kaye's Audiobook Challenge. To learn more about the challenge, visit J. Kaye's Book Blog. To see who else has finished the challenge visit this page at J. Kaye's Book Blog.

I committed to listening to 12 books, and I met that goal yesterday. I plan on listening to many more books this year, so if you're an audiobook fan, keep on eye on this space!

Here is what I read. Click on the link to read my review. My rating is in parentheses.

Completed Audiobook Challenge List

House of Blue Mangoes by David Davidar (C+)
Rebel by Bernard Cornwell (B)
Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke (C+)
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly (B+)
Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke (B)
Memoirs of Cleopatra by Margaret George (B-)
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (A+)
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome (A)
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (A)
Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter by Blaize Clement (B-)
Queen Lucia by E. F. Benson (A)
A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow (B-)

As you all know by now, I absolutely love audiobooks. I listen daily when I walk, do household chores, drive, or shop. Hands-down Wicked Lovely is the best of the bunch. It's among my all-time top listens, and I am so happy I didn't miss it. Thirteen Reasons Why was especially well suited for audio because at least half of the book is meant to be audio recordings made by one of the main characters.

In terms of production quality, there is not a miss in my list. The two C+ ratings are for the storyline not for the audio experience.

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Unfinished: Deadly Nightshade by Cynthia Riggs

Publisher's Summary: "Victoria Trumbull has lived most of her 92 years on the Island. Like other Islanders, she knows the sound of the sea in calm and stormy weather - and she knows the sounds that do not belong. One evening while Victoria waits on the dock for her granddaughter to return with the harbormaster, she hears a chilling scream followed by a splash and the sound of tires skidding on sand. She investigates and discovers a mutilated body floating on the outgoing tide.

With her granddaughter, Domingo the harbormaster, a swarm of Island characters, and a few mysterious visitors, Victoria manages to get in a good bit of detective work. However, she isn't able to prevent further homicide. As the tension mounts, Victoria concocts a scheme to reveal the killer and still has time to prepare her traditional Saturday night supper of Boston baked beans.

While the summer visitors bask on the beach, sail Island waters, shop in the Island stores, the reader is treated to the magic, the history and the texture of 'the Vineyard' with its year-round characters real enough to include the reader in their conversations."

Why I Abandoned the Book: I decided to listen to this first-in-series mystery because I liked the premise, I love listening to mysteries, and I love the narrator, Davina Porter. I started the book over three times and just couldn't get past about chapter 3 because I had trouble following the plot, the harbormaster's personality and his sexist language bothered me, and I thought the transitions between scenes were rather abrupt. Worse, as much as I love Porter's voice, I just couldn't buy the idea of a British/Scots accent in the mouths of the residents of Martha's Vineyard. Someday, I may give this one a try in print, but I'm afraid I've been soured on whole idea.

A Quick Look at Reviews: I took a glance at the reviews on the commercial sites and found that the audio version of Deadly Nightshade gets fairly low marks. The print version gets mixed reviews from customers.

I also found a full review by Joy of Joy's Blog, written last year, in which she notes that "the book didn't live up to my expectations," but she also says, "the character of Victoria is so attractive, I think it would be only right to give her a second chance."

If you love Martha's Vineyard or are just curious, you may have better luck than I did.

Print published by Signet, 2003
ISBN-13: 978-0451208163
Audio by Blackstone Audio, 2006
ISBN-13: 9780786153374

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Review: A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow

It's been fourteen months, three days, and seven hours since chief detective Kate Shugak got her throat slit while stopping a man from abusing his young daughter. Sporting an ugly scar and a damaged voice, Kate now lives on her native lands within an unnamed national park in the Alaskan wilderness; her only constant companion is Mutt, who's half-wolf, half-Husky.

Her solitary existence is interrupted one December afternoon when her ex-boss and ex-lover, Jack Morgan, comes up from Anchorage, bringing an FBI agent to her homestead. It seems that a park ranger, Mark Miller, went missing a few weeks earlier. The Anchorage DA's office sent detective Ken Dahl after the ranger, but he, too was never seen again.

Ken's father just so happens to be a congressman, and he's asked the FBI to look for his son. That's where Kate comes in: Having been raised in the park, she's related to half the people in the bush and is on speaking terms with most of the rest, and besides being a top-notch detective, she knows the wilderness. Reluctantly, and for a fee, she begins her investigation into the whereabouts of the two missing people.

Throughout the novel, we are introduced to the Alaskan wilderness, park politics, and the way of life of the Aleut who live on federal lands. Kate's investigation reveals infighting among the tribal leaders and discord between the generations. Kate must weigh her belief in the law and law enforcement against her blood ties with the possible suspects.

A Cold Day for Murder, winner of the 1993 Edgar Award for Best Paperback, is the first in a series. Although the mystery of the missing persons is at the core of the plot, the story spirals outward to encompass much more than the fate of two young men. This works well for a novel, but the general tension and suspense I look for in a mystery was often lacking.

Kate solves the mystery in her head, and we are not let in on the answer until the very end. Perhaps my mind wandered a bit, but I'm not completely sure how she finally realized what happened and who was responsible. However, the setting, the people, and the potential for exciting wilderness adventures will bring me back to Kate Shugak and her Aleut friends and relatives.

Marguerite Gavin read the unabridged audio of this book. She did an excellent job making Kate's raspy, damaged voice come across as believable. The characters were easily distinguished without being dramatized, and I was interested in hearing how the many Aleut place names were supposed to be pronounced.

For maps of the park and more about the series, visit Dana Stabenow's website.

Cold Day for Murder at an Indie

Cold Day for Murder at Powell's

Print published by Penguin Group (USA), 1992
Unabridged audio by Books on Tape, 2005
ISBN-13: 9780425133019
Challenges: New Author, Support Your Library, Themed Reading, 999, Audiobook, Cozy Mystery, 100+
YTD: 32
Rating: B-

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Thursday Tea (April 23)

Thursday Tea is hosted by Anastasia at Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog. Here's how it works: Tell us what tea you are drinking (and if you like it). And then tell us what book are you reading (and if you like it). Finally, tell us if they go together.




The Tea

This week I discovered Adagio Teas thanks to Julie from Booking Mama. I'm drinking Decaf Tropics: "Decaf Orange tea with pieces of mango and chunks of pineapple. Decaffeinated using a natural CO-2 process, that allows leaves to retain their delicate shape and flavor." It tastes like a fruitier orange tea and is very warming. I'm drinking this one black with no sweetener.

The Book

I'm listening to A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow. It's the first in a mystery series that takes place in Alaska. This story is set in the weeks before Christmas and it's cold--I mean cold. Everyone wears head-to-toe down suits and gets around on snowmobiles. The story and the descriptions of the national park and the people who live there are engaging. The protagonist, Kate Shugak, is an Aleut and ex-investigator for the district attorney in Anchorage; she is drawn into a missing person case by her old boss and the FBI.

The Assessment

I just had to go with something warming to counteract the chill of the Alaskan early winter. Ahhhh, the tropical flavors do the trick well.

Cold Day for Murder at an Indie

Cold Day for Murder at Powell's

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Wordless Wednesday (April 22)

Spring Bicycle

For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

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Where Are You? / Teaser Tuesday (April 21)

I'm a junior in high school in the Hudson Valley. All I've ever wanted to do is cook. It's a good thing too, because my mother is busy being a congresswoman, my dad mostly practices yoga, and my five little brothers are always hungry. I like being alone in the kitchen working my way through Julia Child's books. I've just met the eccentric Lucida Sans, who's in the drama club, and I have a feeling my solitary life is about to end.

For more Where Are You? answers, visit Raidergirl3 at An Adventure in Reading.

MizB at Should Be Reading hosts Teaser Tuesdays. Here's how it works: Grab your current read; let the book fall open to a random page; and share 2 “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12. For more teasers, click on through to MizB's blog.

Elaine didn't like to talk about cooking with anyone but her father or her brothers, and she certainly was not willing to share her lifelong dream of becoming a chef and teacher with a near stranger [Lucida]. Elaine was ashamed of her dream because, as her mother had pointed out so many years ago, her ambition was of a domestic nature and had little to do with furthering the cause of gender equality or deconstructing traditional family roles. (p. 21)

--Both from Dear Julia by Amy Bronwen Zemser

Dear Julia at an Indie

Dear Julia at Powell's

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Weekly Link Round-Up (April 20)

Because of the Spring Read-a-Thon, I'm going to make this week's link round-up short and sweet!

Conversations

Amy at My Friend Amy wrote Why I Blog, Bethany from B&b ex libris wrote Cool and Not Cool, and Trish from Hey Lady Whatcha Reading wrote This Blogging Thing Reminds Me of High School. Are there cliques? Are some people cool? Does anyone feel left out? Read these posts and join in the discussion.

Alyce from At Home with Books wants to know about participating in memes. You all do it, but how much is too much? Let her know.

Reviews

Jen at Devourer of Books reveiwed First Comes Love, Then Comes Malaria by Eve Waite-Brown. Ever thought about joining the Peace Corps? Take a look at this book. Here's what Jen had to say: "Let me just tell you that Eve is awesome. She is smart and sassy and I felt like I was sitting with one of my girlfriends, listening to her tell her story - complete with hand gestures and sarcasm. "

Shelly from Write for a Reader reviewed The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. Yes this YA book involves zombies, but Shelly says: "I'll admit, I've never really been into zombies, . . . but this, I liked! I think it's because the focus of the book is not really the zombies, but Mary and her delimna."

Moving

Carrie from Books and Movies has moved!! Click on the link and re-set your bog reader so you don't miss a thing she has to say! I've already made the switch.

Giveaway

Julie from Booking Mama reviewed and is giving away two copies of Because I Love Her edited by Andrea N. Richesin. This sounds like a super book about mothers and daughters. Even if you don't want a copy, be sure to read the comments Julie is getting: all about how special her readers' moms are.

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Dewey's Read-a-Thon April 2009: Tales of a Cheerleader

The spring read-a-thon is over! I was able to cheer on the readers for much of the time. I was there at the beginning, I was there at the end! I took a bit of time out in the day to do some yardwork, but I was a faithful cheerleader.

In the evening (about 9:00 eastern time in the United States) I was kicked off Twitter for too many tweets in too short of a time. I think if you tweet more than 40 tweets in an hour they kick you off. Fortunately, I wasn't barred for life!

I can't tell you how wonderful it was to see the "Free @BethFishReads" tweets. And I want one of those T-shirts! And it just so happened I had baked brownies to keep me going -- I was eating warm brownies, drinking coffee, and laughing at the tweets that were trying to spring me from Twitter jail!

I was able to resume my cheering and stayed online until about midnight. Then I intended to sleep about 2 hours. I never heard the alarm and woke up at 5:30 a.m. But no worries, I was back to cheering as readers crossed the finish line!

I had the best time cheering. I stayed on Twitter and didn't get a chance to read anyone's blogs (will do that over the next couple of days) -- so I watched and cheered as readers reported finished books, aching muscles, tired eyes, and more finished books.

I hope to join in the reading next fall, but I'm tempted to just play Twitter cheerleader again. I loved having the chance to be that chatty and to talk to lots of fun people I would have missed otherwise. This was a super way to meet new readers. We even recruited a few readers "off the street" when they tweeted, "What's this read-a-thon thing?"

At one point #readathon was trending so well we beat out Oprah and the NBA! Go readers! I also followed the top tweeps for the event -- I came in first even with my 5.5-hour sleep. Gosh I'm chatty!

You do not want to miss out next year. Whether you read for 4 hours or 24, whether you cheer on the blogs or on Twitter -- there is great fun to be had and you can do it in your own time frame and in your own way.

I am in total awe of all the readers: Each and everyone of you deserves a big round of applause!!!

I'll get back to normal blogging tomorrow.

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Dewey's Read-a-Thon April 2009

Today is the spring read-a-thon! If you have no clue what it is or how to participate, check out the event's blog, Dewey's Read-a-Thon.

I can't participate as a reader this time around (I hope to in the fall), but I plan to be a cheerleader for most of the event.

I hope everyone gets lots of reading done and has a terrific time!

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Awards!

I am truly blessed to be the recipient of so much recognition.

The You Don't Say award (don't you love the panda?) is in recognition of being chatty. Thank you so much to Kristina from Kristina's Favorites and Melissa from Melissa's Bookshelf. The One Lovely Blog award comes from Sandy at You've Gotta Read This and Margaret from Books Please. The Splash award goes to blogs that allure, amuse, bewitch, impress, or inspire you. Thanks to Melissa from Melissa's Bookshelf and Jackie from Farm Lane Books. Thanks also to Myza from Books and So Many More Books for the lovely Sisterhood award.

The cool Zombie Chicken award comes from Amy at Addicted to Books. The Premio Dardos award is for transmitting cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values every day. Thanks so much to Pabast from Reading Mama. The Blogger's Best Friend award is given to your most loyal blog readers. Thanks so much to Robin of My Two Blessings.

My favorite way to recognize awards and return the joy is to encourage all of you to visit at least one (and I hope more) of the blogs mentioned in this post. They are all interesting and each blogger has added to my ever-growing wish list.

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Review and Interview: Zamora's Ultimate Challenge by M. K. Scott

Review

Twelve-year-old Mason Clover is serious about school and gymnastics. His younger brother, Carter, is artistic with a soft spot for animals. Fortunately, the boys find common ground when it comes to playing their favorite video game, Queen Zamora. That'd be great, except they are always being interrupted by their baby sister, Izzy.

One evening, the boys' parents decide they can leave the kids home alone for about an hour. After all, Mason is almost a teenager, and he can certainly be in charge for such a short time, especially if baby Izzy is already in bed. As soon as their parents leave, the boys start up the video game. But this time something is different, and Queen Zamora's face fills the screen. She tells the boys that she has kidnapped Izzy and will soon take over their sister's soul, infiltrate the Clover family, and from there take over Earth.

The boys have no choice but to enter the game themselves and rescue their sister from Queen Zamora's castle. Once the boys figure out how to get inside the video game, they are greeted by the sage Seyem. The wise man gives the boys a few gifts and then tells them the secrets to surviving the game and successfully saving their sister: (1) Always believe in yourself, (2) always believe in and love each other, and (3) always trust your inner light.

Scott's short tale is geared toward nine-year-olds and up. The idea of entering into a video game and using skills, gifts, and instinct to move from level to level and escape danger will have a strong appeal to preteen readers. The boys behave a lot like normal kids: They try to hide their bad behavior from their parents, they bicker and compete, and they make mistakes.

During their journey in Queen Zamora's world, the boys meet many creatures and people, including a flying horse, a mermaid, a hungry shark, and a lava monster. The boys struggle to meet the challenges so they can save Izzy, all the while learning the truth of Seyem's rules.

Three Questions with M. K. Scott

BFR: One of the lessons Mason and Carter learn is the power of love. Did you think about how this is something that is learned only by experience and cannot be simulated in a game?

MKS: The game is really just the setting for the book. It's a tool to draw kids in. I think today's kids can relate to the video game, and once they get sucked in by that, the messages come out through the characters that they meet and the lessons the boys learn about themselves along the way. I tried not to be preachy about the lesson of the power of love and allowed the characters to teach it and show it. I think that teaching about the power of love in any kind of story format is possible. It would be nice if there were video games that did this rather than what many seem to teach, which is the power of violence. Imagine what the world might be like if we started teaching kids through the tools they use in their lives about peace and love and courage? Call me a Pollyanna, but I have hope.

BFR: Another good lesson for kids is that things are not always what they seem to be: faeries can be bad and pirates (as in the doctor) can be good. The pirate doctor also shows us that good can be found in unexpected places. I think kids today are often forced to be more careful when picking their friends than were kids of previous generations. Do you think that's true?

TW: I absolutely think it's true that today's kids are often forced to be more careful when picking their friends than in previous generations. I think the media plays such a strong force in our world that we are inundated with negative images constantly. I believe we've become a very fear based society, and we've put that on our kids. We send them messages of what good looks like and what bad looks like. I do think it's important for everyone to be cautious, but more important than what someone looks like, sounds like, or where they come from is how they treat others. I also think kids have good instincts, and teaching them to listen to their gut is a powerful tool. If they feel someone isn't of good character or maybe not the best person to be hanging around with, then they should trust that. The gut almost always never lies. That is something I tell my kids all the time.

BFR: The other big message is the importance of teamwork. At home, Mason and Carter mostly play the game as individuals. But in Zamora's world, they really need to rely on each other to have any hope of saving their sister. Do you think this is a difficult lesson to teach kids, except maybe through team sports?

TW: I think team sports teaches this message, but I also think this type of message is one that can be taught at home by having kids help out. In our house we don't do allowance. Doing chores is part of being a family. Hanging out in the kitchen and helping Mom make lunches or dinner is a part of being involved with the family. Teamwork can be as simple as having your kid get out the bag of popcorn to pop for a video night with the family. Teachers and schools can do a great job teaching teamwork. I work in the classroom weekly, and the kids break up into groups of three and four and help each other develop story lines, characters, themes, etc. Even if someone is a single parent with one kid at home, you can teach the importance of teamwork. It's vital as we are all dependent and interdependent on each other, and we can all really help one another succeed and have a great time on this journey called life.

Zanora's Ultimate Challenge from the publisher

Published by Quake, 2009
ISBN-13: 9781590806098
Challenges: YA, 999, New Author, 100+
Rating: B+
YTD: 31

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Thursday Tea (April 16)

Thursday Tea is hosted by Anastasia at Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog. Here's how it works: Tell us what tea you are drinking (and if you like it). And then tell us what book are you reading (and if you like it). Finally, tell us if they go together.




The Tea


I'm drinking Stash Tea's Pomegranate Raspberry Green Tea. Green tea is good for you (lots of anti-oxidants), and I love the flavors of pomegranate and raspberry. And I drink this tea black (or would that be green?) with no sweetener.



The Book




Deadly Nightshade is the first in the Martha's Vineyard series by Cynthia Riggs. The protagonist is ninety-two-year-old Victoria Trumbull. It's summer, and Victoria's granddaughter Elizabeth, newly divorced, comes to the island to work for the harbormaster and to stay for a while. Victoria and Elizabeth soon discover a dead body, and the two women are involved in solving the crime. Although the community is small, it is a vacation destination, so the list of suspects can be far-reaching.




The Assessment

First the tea: This is one of my favorite teas, very yummy hot and equally good as sun tea in the summer. Pomegranate raspberry isn't as good of a match as cranberry would have been, but the pairing isn't bad. Actually, the tea is the better of the two.

I'm only three chapters into the book (which I've started twice), and I'm not sure how much more time I'm going to give it. Tune in next week for either a full review or a mini-post explaining why I'm not finishing the book.

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Wordless Wednesday (April 15)

Church in Bremen, Germany

For more Wordless Wednesday shots click here.

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Review: Queen Lucia by E. F. Benson

Emmeline Lucas, better known as Lucia (pronounced as if Italian), is the undisputed center of society in the southern English town of Riseholme. She sees it as her duty to bring culture and refinement to the townsfolk. Her most faithful subject is her neighbor Georgie, who visits daily to gossip, plan garden parties, and practice the piano. No one in the town dare comment on an artist, poet, or musician without first determining Lucia's opinion.

The security of Lucia's realm is threatened one summer by the rebellion of Daisy Quantock, who has the audacity to invite a yoga guru to her house, and by the arrival of opera star Olga Bracely, who immediately brings Georgie under her spell.

"The red star had risen in Riseholme; Bolshevism was treading in its peaceful air, and if Mrs. Quantock was going to secrete her Guru, and set up her own standard on the strength of him, Georgie felt much inclined to ask Olga Bracely to dinner, without saying anything whatever to Lucia about it, and just see what would happen next." (pp. 34–35)

In this first Lucia book, which takes place in the late 1920s, Benson introduces us to the upper-middle-class residents of Riseholme, who are sure they are every bit as refined as and certainly more industrious than anyone who lives in London. Life is easy and innocent for Lucia and her friends, and we are treated to a charming game of Queen of the Social Hill, which involves competing social events and even matchmaking.

From Georgie and his tomboy sisters to Daisy and her pursuit of all things spiritual to Olga and her threat to Lucia's supremacy, the doings of Riseholme are always fun and often funny. Here are two more quotes:

Olga: "Come into my house instantly, and we'll drink vermouth. Vermouth always makes me brilliant unless it makes me idiotic, but we'll hope for the best."

Daisy: "Georgie suspects something, but luckily he doesn't know what he suspects."

I first read the Lucia books around 1980. I noticed that they had been released on audio, and I thought that would be a nice way to revisit Lucia and her world. The unabridged audio production (narrated by Nadia May) was nicely done, but I think Lucia is much better savored in print.

If you are as taken by Lucia as I was, don't miss the other books in the series. Lucia and Georgie are at the core of them all.

Queen Lucia at an Indie

Queen Lucia at Powell's

Print published by Moyer Bell, January 2000
Audio published by Blackstone Audio, 1997
ISBN-13: 9781559212526
Challenges: A-Z Title, Audiobook, 999, 100+
Rating: A
YTD: 30

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Musing Mondays: What'd You Say?

Here's this week's Musing Mondays hosted by Rebecca from Just One More Page. To read the complete meme and to see other answers, click on through.

This week it's all about comments.

⇒ How do you respond to the comments on your blog? Do you try to email individually or comment on post yourself answering the comments above?

I usually respond right in my own comments so that all my readers can see the answers to any questions. This is especially important when you have discussion happening. Once in a great while I'll add an an edit to the original post to address a particular point made by a commenter. And sometimes I'll zip over to the commenter's blog to leave a note. But generally I comment right here.

⇒ What do you think is the best way to respond to comments and do you respond to all of them?

I'm not sure I understand the first part of this question, so I'll focus on the second. No, I don't respond to all comments. I try to respond to all questions and any other comment that I believe needs an answer. But many comments say things like "Good review." These types of comments do not need to be answered, at least not individually. Sometimes I leave a thanks-you comment for everyone who responded.

When you start a discussion, I think it's a good idea to try to respond to all comments. I can't be glued to the computer (although I give the impression that I am), so sometimes I have to answer 6 people in one comment, but I do try to stay engaged.

⇒ Do you feel slighted if you don't receive a response back from the blog owner?

Absolutely not. First, not everything I say is worth a response. Second, I understand that everyone has a life outside of blogging. When I ask a question on someone's blog I try to remember to check the box that allows me to follow the responses via email. I don't expect anyone to email me individually with an answer to a question I leave on his or her blog.

What about you? Do you answer every comment?

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Weekly Link Round-Up (April 12)

Here are some things I read this week.


Giveaways and Challenges

Amy from Passages to the Past has a super giveaway: The winner will get a signed copy of The Tory Widow plus a revolutionary America survival kit! How cool is that? There's still time to enter.

Carrie from Books and Movies has five copies of Jantsen’s Gift by Pam Cope and Aimee Molloy to give away. This memoir of a mother's struggle to find peace after the death of her son sounds inspirational and moving.

You know, of course, that April is the month of Earth Day. Did you know that this year is the fortieth anniversary of the event? In celebration, Rebecca of Lost in Books is holding an Earth Day Challenge with prizes! It started Friday, but you can easily catch up. It's a super idea, and I hope you all take a look.

Molly at My Cozy Book Nook has a fun Summer Vacation challenge coming up. It'll go from May 22 to September 7. There are prizes involved! Go check it out.

Fun Weekly Features

If you are more organized than I am, you might want to play along with What Are You Reading on Mondays at J. Kaye's Book Blog. Every Monday, participants summarize what they accomplished the week before and set their goals for the week to come. It's one way to stay on track and make it through your TBR piles.

You have to take a break from reading once in a while -- really! Try Tube Talk Tuesdays with Amy from My Friend Amy. She and Elizabeth are talking TV. This week it was the pilot episode of Supernatural. Tune in and join the discussion.

On hump day, give yourself a break and share some Midweek Morsels with Kristina at Kritina's Favorites. Coming up this week is a chance to share your successful Easter recipes. I bet you could share Passover recipes too.

On Thursdays try Thursday Thunks. This fun meme consists of a series of questions or fill-ins that require short answers -- humor is welcome!

On Fridays try Refer a Book on Shannon's blog Confuzzled Books. Just recommend a good read for a chance to win a book!

Tech Help

Have you ever been confused about Excel? Worry no more because Kris at Not Enough Books has written a great post that will help you become a spread sheet queen!

Reading Event

April 16th is Support Teen Literature Day, and Shelly from Write for a Reader is encouraging everyone to participate. It's really easy: Just drop a YA book off at a public place. Please see Shelly's post for instructions and to learn more about this fantastic program.

Just for Fun

Warning: before reading Jen's post at Devourer of Books put down any food or drinks. You would not believe what keyword searches lead to her blog. I don't want to know why this search takes you to Jen: "i know he has some parts and im not sure how dominant they are." Eeeeeuuuuuu!

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Publishing and Twitter: A Good Mix?

If you're one of the many book bloggers on Twitter, you know that there is more to it than just announcing your every action. There are literary chats, debates about the worth of book reviews, discussions about books and authors, and Twitter-based book clubs. Twitter provides a means of connecting with authors, book publicists, and publishing companies.

But here's something even experienced Tweeps might not be aware of: John Baird, an author from Seattle, is experimenting with writing a novel on Twitter. Every day, he presents his novel in a series of tweets. The Man Who Does Not Exist is also on John's blog, where you'll find posts that take you through the novel from the beginning to the latest tweet.

I read through the first chapter of the novel, which establishes the setting and introduces us to one character. There is enough mystery to make the reader want to know more. Basically, we are in the wilderness, following a man who seems to have been on his own for a long time. We don't know why he's there and how he got there. All we know is that he has or keeps a journal, he reads Wordsworth, and he suffers from some kind of fits. Although the text could use the firm hand of a good editor, the core of the chapter has potential and serves well as the introduction to a novel.

You can read the story in daily tweets by following @johnmbaird, and you catch up with the action by visiting John's blog.

Let's Discuss

John is involved in an innovative experiment of using the new(ish) social media as a publishing tool. Although I find it a bit a difficult to keep up with the story (Twitter goes down, I fail to pay attention, I'm involved in another conversation, I'm off the computer for a while), and I often forget or don't have time to read the installments, the project got me thinking: Is this a trend? Are there other authors self-publishing in 140 or less?

More important: What do you think? Will Twitter become a source of new talent for publishers and acquisition editors? Does John's experiment sound intriguing? Is he on to something or is it just too difficult to read a story in tweets? Would you consider reading or writing a novel on Twitter? I'd love to hear your honest opinions.

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It's Friday and I'm Late for Tea

Thursday Tea is hosted by Anastasia at Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog. I'm late for tea this week, but I'm hoping someone left me a scone or crumpet.

Here's how it works: Tell us what tea are you drinking (and do you like it)? And what book are you reading (and do you like it)? And if they go together.




The Tea

I was drinking Stash Tea's English Breakfast tea. And yes, I use tea bags! English breakfast tea is not my all-time favorite, but I was in the mood for it. I drink this tea black with no sugar.


The Book



I'm listening to a very British book: Queen Lucia by E. F. Benson, the first in a charming and funny series that is set in a small village in the 1920s. Lucia is the social director of the town and works hard to make sure she isn't toppled from her throne.

I first read this series in the early 1980s, and I've decided to see how the books hold up to audio. You'll have to come back for my review next week.




The Assessment

The tea and book go together well and remind me of my travels in the UK.

Is there a drink that goes well with the book you're reading now? Tea? Coffee? Milk? Or perhaps a stiff shot of whiskey is the only thing that will get you through!

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Review: The Killing Tree by Rachel Keener

Mercy Heron has never been sheltered from the truths of life. She was raised on a small southern Appalachian farm at the base of Crooktop Mountain by her cold church-deacon grandfather and her loving but crazy grandmother. Father Heron cannot forget that Mercy was born from his defiant and sinful daughter. Mamma Rutha lives in her own world of herbs and trees and mountain. Mercy dreams of the ocean:

[S]ometimes I wondered if God had messed up. . . . 'Cause why would God plan it out like this? Put me on a mountain, without a momma or a daddy. Give me to a grandfather that I won't ever be holy enough to belong to. And then fill my head with dreams about a land I've never seen.

Mercy's one joy in life is her friendship with Della DeMar. At age fourteen, the two girls vow to stand by each other no matter what—no matter that Father Heron won't let trailer trash like Della on his property, no matter that townsfolk think Mercy may be just as nuts as her grandmother.

Once she graduated high school, Mercy took a full-time job in the town's diner. She saves her money, tactfully avoids her boss's advances, and stays out her grandfather's sight as much as possible. As summer comes to end, Mercy feels the grip of the mountain; there will be no college for her and no escape to the wider world. Then she meets Trout Price, a mater-picking migrant worker, lower than Della, lower even than the mountain folk, and Mercy Heron is unprepared for the aftershocks.

No one seems to rest easy in the small-town world of Crooktop Mountain, and some secrets are held so closely that even those who have lived there all their lives are oblivious. Through Mercy Heron, Keener has expertly revealed the many layers of rural prejudices and hidden segments of Appalachian life. The Killing Tree is not a novel about the romance of a simpler life, it's an examination of a young woman who struggles to understand her family and her own conflicting hopes and expectations.

How can Mercy see herself as she really is when she is constantly bombarded by the unchanging opinions of her town. As a result, she is haunted by mirrors—from the watery mirror that threatens to break when she first meets Trout, to the cruel mirror Father Heron shoves in her face, to the beautiful mirror that is her lasting gift from the mater migrant. And when we look in Mercy's mirrors, do we see ourselves?

Keener also explores contrasting relationships and the effects that different lifestyles have on those involved. From businessman and teenager to mountain folk and valley farmer to Mercy's closed world and Trout's rootless existence. How do lovers influence each other? Can any good come out of crossing the line into new territory?

The Killing Tree at an Indie

The Killing Tree at Powell's

Published by Center Street, 2009
ISBN-13: 9781599951119
Challenges: 100+, 999, A-Z Title, New Author
YTD: 29
Rating: A-

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Challenge: Cozy Mystery Challenge 2009

I wasn't going to join any more challenges, but I've finally given in to this one. The Cozy Mystery Challenge is hosted by Kris at Not Enough Books. The goal is read six cozy mysteries between April 1 and September 30. Four of the books can overlap other challenges, but two have be chosen specifically for this challenge.

I'm not going to make a list, but I reviewed the first book for the challenge (Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter) yesterday. Stay tuned for more cozies -- they make such good summer reading.

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Wordless Wednesday (April 8)

Through the Lattice

For more Wordless Wednesday entries click here.

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Review: Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter by Blaize Clement

Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter is the first entry in the Dixie Hemingway mystery series by Blaize Clement.

Dixie Hemingway's life in the Sarasota, Florida's sheriff department ended on the day her husband and daughter were killed in a tragic accident. Dixie returns to her nearby childhood home of Siesta Key to find some peace and to try to reengage in life. Three years later, she is feeling strong and happy in her new career as professional pet sitter. Her apartment is on property that was once owned by her grandparents, and her brother and his partner live across the drive in the big house.

Dixie's peaceful life is interrupted the morning she enters Marilee Doerring's house to feed her cat, Ghost. Instead of being greeted by a hungry kitty, Dixie finds a dead man in the kitchen and the rest of the house ransacked. After making a quick check around the house, she grabs the cat and runs outside to call 911. Thus the former deputy is brought back into the world of crime.

There is much to like about this series debut and Dixie Hemingway. Although Dixie has experienced unimaginable personal loss, she is not someone to pity. She has found a way of life that suits her, she is close to her brother and his partner, she is connected to her community, and she loves pets and her job. Clement has done a great job of balancing Dixie's sadness with her strength so we can empathize without feeling sorry for her.

It is easy to picture the people Dixie runs into in Siesta Key. This is a first in series, so there are lots of characters we have to meet: Dixie's family, the members of the police department, the waitress at the diner, and Dixie's longstanding clients. All are characters we look forward to seeing again. Clement also does an great job developing the individuals specifically related to the murder.

It's a given that a book about a pet sitter would feature dogs and cats. The good news is that Clement manages to use the animals as a foil to the darker aspects of the novel without getting cutesy. I'm sure the book would be considered a cozy mystery, but don't expect to find a budding romance or fun family life in the background. Dixie uses adult language, and we see the grittier parts of the murder scene. Underlying issues that may or may not be related to the mystery include sex, adultery, blackmail, a gay lifestyle, medical malpractice, and the nasty side of evangelical Christianity.

My principal criticism is that I figured out several pieces of the plot fairly easily, which I often find annoying in a mystery. However, I did not work out all the details, and there were still surprises at the end. The series has potential, and I'm planning on reading more about Dixie Hemingway's adventures in pet sitting.

I listened to this book on audio read by Julia Gibson, who did a fine job with pacing and distinguishing characters.

Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter at an Indie

Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter at Powell's

Print published by St. Martin's Press, 2007
Audio published by Recorded Books
ISBN-13: 9780312941925
Challenges: New Author, Support Your Library, Themed Reading, 999, Audiobooks, Spring Reading, 100+, Cozy Mystery
YTD: 28
Rating: B-

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Blog Improvement Project: It's All About the Comment

Kim from Sophisticated Dorkiness has given us our next assignment in the BIP project. It's all about comments! Who doesn't like getting comments and yet not every post generates the amount of attention we'd like. So the idea is to read articles about generating comments, put some of the tips into action, and see if there is any improvement. Great assignment Kim!

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Musing Mondays: Mount TBR

Here's today's Musing Mondays question, hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page. Be sure to click the link to read the full meme and to see how others answered the question.

How do you keep track of your tbr list. Do you have a paper list or on your computer? Do you take it with you when you go shopping? How do you decide what gets added to it?

TBR Piles

I'm kind of a failure at taking control of my TBR piles. I have the best intentions of reading through the books in some kind of order. I'm always leaving blog comments along the lines of "Oh, I'll have to read that next." I played along with J. Kaye's What Are You Reading meme, I've made promises to friends.

The truth is I have no real plan. I have lists of books for reading challenges, and I have lists of books for book review blog tours. I do pretty much keep with those obligations, but other than that . . .

Wish List

Ha! I'm even worse with my wish list. I have scraps of paper that are worn and creased, sticky notes that have lost their stick, blog posts that I never look at again, computer files that I can't find. When it comes time to buy, I go by mood or by impulse. I'm at the store or at a website and my mind goes blank, my lists disappear, and I'm on my own with a blank slate.

Basically, I'm hopeless. But, of course, my wish list is so huge that I'd need a dolly to wheel it into the store and a winning lottery ticket to get it all—might as well just buy a bookstore and be done with it.

How about you? I'm sure you're more organized than I am. Tell me your secret.

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Awards!

Thanks so much to Melody from Melody's Reading Corner for this great award: "This award is for bloggers who distinguish themselves for showing cultural values, ethics, great and fun writing skills, as well individual values, through their creative writing . . . "




Thanks to Amy from Passages to the Past for the Uber-cool Zombie Chicken award. EDIT: Thanks too to Smash at Great Books and Fresh Coffee!



Thanks to Sandy from You've Gotta Read This! for the Proximidade Award: "This blog invests and believes in the Proximity - nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! . . ."




Thanks to Alyce from At Home with Books for the Lemonade Award given to blogs that show great attitude and/or gratitude!



Passing these awards along to all my readers. Be sure to visit these four blogs and take a look around -- they are all among my favorites.

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