BOOK RATING

TITLE - THE SHARING KNIFE

AUTHOR - LOIS MCMASTER BUJOLD

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10 =

10

BOOK RATING

TITLE - LORD OF THE DANCE
AUTHOR - ANDREW M. GREELEY

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10 =

10

This book was so good, he could have just stopped writing right here. Really enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading the rest of his books.

BOOK RATING

TITLE - PRISM
AUTHOR - FAYE AND ALIZA KELLERMAN

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10 =

7

Not a bad little book for a first try. Aliza's first book (with her mother, Faye's, help). I enjoyed it. Wasn't the best book I've ever read but it held my interest. It's really a young adult book but I wanted to see what it was like!!!!

BOOK RATING

TITLE - JAGUAR MOON

AUTHOR - LINDA L. DONAHUE

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10 =

7

The Editor and I met Linda a couple of Sci Fi Conventions ago. Really liked her. The book was good. I'm finding that I really enjoy fantasy fiction better than science fiction. This was a bit inbetween.

BOOK RATING

TITLE - HOUSE OF DOORS

AUTHOR - JULIA S. MANDALA

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10 =

7

Julia is part of the Yard Dog Press gang. I liked this book. I liked the boy in the book fighting off monsters behind the doors but the monsters kinda ran together. But I'm not real fond of spaceships and monsters. I like my Sci Fi more on the line of fantasy....not spaceshippy or aliens! The Editor and I met her also at a Sci Fi Con and liked her alot. This book is two books combined in one! Now I'm turning the book over and reading Jaguar Moon by Linda L. Donahue and will rate it after I'm finished!

BOOK RATING

TITLE - THE HOST

AUTHOR - SELINA ROSEN

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10 =

7

I liked this book. I had a bit of a problem because three of the vampires in the book had very similar names which was confusing for me. The vampires were very scary! I liked it enough to want to read the 2nd and 3rd book. It was the first in a trilogy. The Editor and I met Selina at a Sci Fi Convention. She owns Yard Dog Press and she is really cool. I'm interested in reading the rest of the series.

BOOK RATING

TITLE - DRAGONKIN

AUTHOR - ROBIN WAYNE BAILEY

In a scale of 1 through 10 =

10

This book was beautifully written. It's the first in a trilogy....I'm going to get the 2nd and 3rd soon. The Editor and I met him in Tulsa at a Sci Fi Convention. He was very nice and signed this book for me.

BOOK RATING

TITLE - BLINDMAN'S BLUFF

AUTHOR - FAYE KELLERMAN

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10 =

7

This was not one of my favorites of hers but I did enjoy it. Lots of typos in it though. I still don't understand why they don't do a better job proofing her work!

BOOK RATING

TITLE - THE SHARING KNIFE - VOLUME ONE - BEGUILEMENT
AUTHOR - LOIS MCMASTER BUJOLD

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10 =

10

This book was really good. It was a fantasy love story and what I loved the most is that the male and female (Dag and Fawn) liked each other from the beginning. No resentment, no fighting their feelings...and Dag was just a nice guy. But somehow was not boring. Really a cool book. It's the first in a serious of four and I'm going to read them all. The Editor and I are members of a science fiction group and they suggested I read this series. We are all going to a science fiction convention in September and we are going to have breakfast with Lois McMaster Bujold. I can't wait to have her sign my books!!!!!!!

BOOK RATING

TITLE - BITE ME!
AUTHOR - MELISSA FRANCIS

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10 =

10

Yes - The Editor and I do know the author.

Yes - We have been patiently (well, maybe not so patiently) waiting for her book to be published.

No - I am not exaggerating. This book is good. It's about a female teenager who is a vampire. Her mom marries her boyfriend's dad and tells her she cannot date him anymore. That they must consider each other brother and sister. It's funny, witty. Just a good read. It's geared toward teenagers but I really liked it. Great twists and turns. Well written.

BOOK RATING

TITLE - FROM FIELDS OF GOLD

AUTHOR - ALEXANDRA RIPLEY

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10 =

10

A good read. It ended just like I wanted it to. This is the gal who wrote "Scarlette" the sequel to Gone With the Wind. It was set back in the 1800's. I really enjoyed it.

QUOTE FROM A BOOK

TITLE - FROM FIELDS OF GOLD
AUTHOR - ALEXANDRA RIPLEY

"In the evening, after supper, the gaslights made it easy to read until late. The only sound in the room was the rustle of pages being turned. She would put her finger in the book to hold her place, close her eyes,and savor the peaceful happiness."

I'm so glad I know exactly what that feeling is like. Many times I've felt this way in the room with The Editor.

BOOK RATING

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10 =

7

This was not my favorite of her books but it was a good, light summer read.

BOOK RATING - #9 ON THE MODERN LIBRARY'S TOP 100 BEST

TITLE - SONS AND LOVERS

AUTHOR - D. H. LAWRENCE

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10 =

8

The first half of this book was just wonderful. I would have given the book a 10 if the second half had been as good. The first half was about a husband and wife and their relationship. It was set in the 1800's (written then also) and man, it was really good. But then it shifted to the life of one of their sons and became a story about the mother and son. They had an unhealthy relationship. She wouldn't let go of him so everytime he met a girl, he would struggle between his relationship with his mother and the new girl. And the mother would always win out. The son didn't realize why he was so unhappy. The second half of the book was about his struggle with this unhealthy relationship. It just wore me out!

BOOK RATING

TITLE -A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY

AUTHOR - MARCIA WILLETT

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10 =

10

Marcia Willett is just an awesome writer! This is the second book I've read of hers and I didn't want either book to end. I can't wait to read the next one! If you love Maeve Binchy and Rosamunde Pilcher, you've got to read Marcia Willett. Start with First Friends and then read this one.

QUOTE FROM A BOOK

"TO ME, FAIR FRIEND, YOU NEVER CAN BE OLD...FOR AS YOU WERE WHEN FIRST YOUR EYE I EYED, SUCH SEEMS YOUR BEAUTY STILL"

TITLE - A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY

AUTHOR - MARCIA WILLETT

BOOK RATING

TITLE - THE HOUNDS OF ARDAGH
AUTHOR - LAURA J. UNDERWOOD

ON SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10

=

10

The Editor and I met Ms. Underwood in Memphis at a Science Fiction Convention and then talked with her again in Tulsa. I bought three of her books in Tulsa. This is the first one I've read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Full of mages, ghosts, demons, etc. I e-mailed her after I finished it and she replied saying that she is working on a sequel. I'm excited!

BOOK RATING

TITLE - DEAD AND GONE
AUTHOR - CHARLAINE HARRIS

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10 =

10

This is the ninth book in the "Sookie Stackhouse" series and it did not disappoint. I absolutely loved it. I especially liked that the whole book was set in Bon Temps (I'm not sure that's spelled right) and Ms. Harris didn't add a bunch of new characters. It was like coming home to an old friend. The series based on these novels "True Blood" starts in one week and I can't wait.

BOOK RATING

TITLE - OVER THE EDGE
AUTHOR - JONATHAN KELLERMAN

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10 =

10

This was Kellerman's third book and is the third in his Alex Delaware series. I'm reading them in order and this one was better than the other two. He seemed to really come into his own with this book. It really held my interest. It was written well and I'm looking forward to his next book which is not in the Alex Delaware series. It's a stand alone and I'm really curious to see what it's like.

OH, OKAY, I UNDERSTAND NOW, I THINK!

So about a month ago, I saw this video by “Peter Bjorn and John” called “Nothing to Worry About” and I just thought it was like one of the craziest videos I'd ever seen. I couldn't really figure out what was going on so I showed the video to The Editor and he too was just bewildered. Today, on my lunch hour, I was outside reading my current book. Over the Edge by Jonathan Kellerman. The following is a quote from the book that I think must explain the video The Editor and I viewed.
Watch the video and then read the quote. What do you think?




“Last year, when I was in Tokyo, I saw an exhibition of street dancing by these Japanese youth gangs that dress up like fifties greasers. They're called zoku - tribes. There are several rival groups, and each one stakes out its own turf in Yoyogi Park on Sunday afternoon. They come on like hoods in black leather, sneering and posturing, set down ghetto blasters with cassette decks and dance to Buddy Holly tapes. It shocks the older generation, which, of course, is the whole idea. But if you look closely, you can see that there's nothing spontaneous about any of it. All the dances – every movement and gesture – are rigidly choreographed. Every gang's got its set routine. No deviation, not a trace of individuality. They've turned rebellion into a Shinto ritual.”

I GOT THE MOTTS!

I forget that the Editor is so much younger than me sometimes. He doesn't know what I mean when I say "I got the Motts" because he doesn't remember the commercials. When I was a kid, Motts ran this series of commercials where children would trade things for Motts applesauce. So when I get something valuable (like directions to somewhere we're going, or tickets, etc.) I always say -- I Got the Motts. Do you guys remember this commercial?

BOOK RATING

TITLE - THE BRAMBLE BUSH
AUTHOR - CHARLES MERGENDAHL

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10 =

10

This book was written in 1958. This book had so many twists and turns.....it shoved me to the left.....it shoved me to the right....finally, at the end of the book, it spit me out. It was about a small town -- skeletons in closets. I didn't think at first I was gonna like it but Charles Mergendahl's writing drew me in. It was like watching a train wreck...I really didn't wanna keep going but I couldn't stop.

I wanted to think about the book a bit before leaving a book rating. Here's what I've decided. The same kind of life changes that happen now happened in the 50's...it's just that back then, they were not accepted in society and nobody talked about it. This book had everything in it....love, hate, jealousy, pornography, lust, adultery, etc. I wouldn't want to read this book again....it wore me out.....but I'm really glad I read it.

QUOTE FROM A BOOK

TITLE - THE BEST OF THE BUBBAS OF THE APOCALYPSE
AUTHOR - SEVERAL AUTHORS (SHORT STORIES)

"Cousin Merv got towed off fer sleepin' with cousin Yerlin. Never did understand why she didn' have ta go ta jail, too. Jim Bob said it had somethin' ta do with her bein' sixteen an' underage.
Till then I didn' know there was an age limit on sleepin' with yer cousin."

EXCERPT FROM A BOOK

TITLE - THE BRAMBLE BUSH
AUTHOR - CHARLES MERGENDAHL

There was no point in arguing with his wife. She had lived her entire life by the stars – had even married him because her horoscope had convinced her he was the right man. That had been years ago now, and he'd been the wrong man all the time. Everyone said he'd married her for her money. No one knew it had been her decision, and a wrong one, and someday her horoscope would prove it to her. Then she'd probably leave him penniless – a crippled old man who had been made wealthy, then poor again, all by the sign of Scorpio.

BOOK REVIEW

TITLE - SMART WOMEN

AUTHOR - JUDY BLUME

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10 =

6

This was a hard read for me. I didn't like this book until the last chapter. I was determined to finish it and I did like the ending. This was the third of the three adult books she has written. I reviewed the other two earlier on this blog. The first one, Summer Sisters, I loved. The second, Wifey, I really disliked. So I read this one in the hopes that it would be more like Summer Sisters. Alas, it was not. A book about women who have gone through divorce, are dating, and the effects their actions have on their children. I wouldn't want to read this book again.

BOOK RATING

TITLE - REVAMPED

AUTHOR - J. F. LEWIS

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10 =

8

This was the second in a series. I enjoyed reading it. Loved the Mustang "Fang" that turned into a vampire. Fang would drive over animals and people....eat them while they were under him and deposit the bones in the trunk. he he he

QUOTES FROM A BOOK

TITLE - REVAMPED

AUTHOR - J. F. LEWIS

This is the second in a series about a Vampire named Eric. In this book, Eric's Mustang becomes a vampire. The Mustang's name is "Fang" and below are two bits from the book that I found pretty funny:

When Fang ran over a possum and it didn't come out the other side, I actually laughed.

Was I the only one in the world who had ever eaten an animal cracker feetfirst because it would theoretically hurt more?

BOOK REVIEW

TITLE - WISH COME TRUE

AUTHOR - EILEEN GOUDGE

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10 =

7

This was the third in a trilogy. I usually love her books but I didn't like this one as much. But I think it's because the relationship between the two sisters in the book reminded me of the relationship between me and my mother. Anybody else probably would have really enjoyed the book.

BOOK REVIEW

TITLE - BLOOD TEST

AUTHOR - JONATHAN KELLERMAN

ON A SCALE OF 1 THRU 10:

8

This is Kellerman's second book. It was good. I'm not warming up to the lead character, Alex, like I did Faye Kellerman's characters in her series of books. But it was good and I'll read more of his books.

BOOK REVIEW

TITLE - STAKED

AUTHOR - J. F. LEWIS

ON A SCALE OF 1 THRU 10 :

10

This is the first in a series from J. F. Lewis. The Editor and I met him at MidSouthCon in Memphis a month or so back. Nice guy. I really enjoyed the book. It's about a Vampire who owns a Strip Club. It's action packed. Not as funny as Charlaine Harris' vampire books. Lots of blood, etc.....I guess it's more how I think vampires would really act. I'm looking forward to the second in the series and I'll be reading it soon.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

TITLE - STAKED

AUTHOR - J. F. LEWIS

In the end, a friendship between a vampire and a human is like a friendship beween a dog and a chicken nugget. Sooner or later, the nugget is going to get eaten; the only real question is how may bites it will take.

The Editor and I met J. F. Lewis at MidSouthCon (the science fiction convention) in Memphis. This is his first book. I've just started reading it. Started out with a bang and is keeping my interest so far.

BOOK REVIEW

TITLE - FIRST FRIENDS

AUTHOR - MARCIA WILLETT

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10 =

10

This book was good from the first sentence right through the last sentence. I didn't want to put it down and when I did have to put it down, I thought about the characters and wondered what was going to happen to them as if they were real. Love it with I find a new author. She's right up there with Maeve Binchy and Rosamunde Pilcher!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

TITLE - FIRST FRIENDS

AUTHOR - MARCIA WILLETT

QUOTE:

LOVE AND A COUGH CANNOT BE HID

QUOTE FROM A BOOK

TITLE - FIRST FRIENDS

AUTHOR - MARCIA WILLETT

"It would have been so much easier if Mark had been unfaithful to me or beat me up. Mental cruelty is so insidious. How do you explain to people what it's like to live with someone who chips away at your confidence, puts you down in public? It's so difficult to verbalize without sounding like a wimp. Eleven years of small, unrelated incidents calculated to keep you in your place. I realize now that Mark worked on the Gamesmanship principle – if you're not one up you're one down."

Sadistic Mama's Boy wasn't named Mark but Mark in First Friends really reminds me of him. The quote above from Marcia Willett's book explains to a tee what it was like being married to SMB....well, except I'm pretty sure he was unfaithful to me. At least, he tried with all my female friends but got turned down. I've always said, if he had to cheat on me, he shouldn't have tried in his own backyard!!!! For me, it was twelve years of small, unrelated incidents. I was lucky and got out of that marriage. I'm only halfway through First Friends but it looks like Kate (Mark's wife in the book) is gonna get out also! YAY FOR HAPPY ENDINGS!

SHE DOESN'T REALLY LOOK LIKE THAT

I've been thinking about my son often lately. He seems so grown up these days. Not a kid anymore. A young adult. He's a joy to be around and I'm so lucky to have him in my life..........not only as my son....but just lucky to know him at all. I can't help but think about how I was at his age....and how my relationship with my mother was so very different than my relationship with my son. He has long hair, some piercings, a tattoo............I love him just as much as I would if he didn't have all of that. Don't get me wrong.....I think my son is a good lookin' young adult. But what really matters to me is what kind of person he is inside. And I'm very proud of his mind, heart and soul.

Over the years, my weight has fluctuated. At some points I'm thin and at other points....not so thin. I remember when I was about his age...I'd gone back to my home town for a visit and I was carrying around more weight than my mother thought was acceptable. We'd gone to a yard sale and I'd found some clothes that I wanted to try on. In my little town, it wasn't unusual for the person having the yard sale to let you go inside their house and try on clothes they had for sale. So I picked up some things that I wanted to try on and went inside the house. They had this little room right to the side of the door by the yard sale so I went in there. I could clearly hear the people outside talking as I was trying on clothes. My mother was saying to the people at the sale......she doesn't really look that way. That's not really her. She's only getting these clothes until she loses weight. My mother was ashamed of me. And me? I was humiliated and...ashamed of my mother. I remember how much courage it took to come back out and walk among those people after hearing her. When I had a relationship with my parents, I called them every Sunday. And each time I called, she would ask.....how's your weight? Have you lost? It depressed me every time she asked. Even the times I was thin, it still depressed me when she asked.
It's too late for my mother and I to have any kind of relationship at all. But I pray often that God will help me to be a good mother and not repeat the chain of abuse. Help me to be a guiding light towards my son's happiness throughout his life. And when he looks down at his cell phone and see's its me calling, may he always pick the call up with a smile on his face and love in his heart.

BOOK REVIEW

TITLE - THY BROTHER'S WIFE
AUTHOR - ANDREW M. GREELEY

ON A SCALE OF 1 THRU 10:

10

This is the first in a trilogy. This was a good book and I'm looking forward to the other two.

FADE IN - DELIVERANCE THEME - FADE OUT

"YA MIGHT BE A REDNECK IF" HITS TOO CLOSE TO HOME

So I get home from work last night and this is what I find in the neighbor's backyard. Yeah, that's what you're looking at........a riding lawnmower partially suspended from the ground by a chain hanging from a tree. And it's not even one chain, it's an old chain and a new chain hooked together. I took this picture this morning. Last night the neighbor and his son-in-law were all gathered around it.....just standing there.....looking at it. I swear I could hear the Deliverance theme in the background. So what....did the lawnmower decide it couldn't take it anymore and try to commit suicide?

BOOK REVIEW

TITLE - WIFEY

AUTHOR - JUDY BLUME

ON A SCALE OF 1 THRU 10:

1

Can you say D E P R E S S I N G? I was so disappointed in this book. Ms. Blume has only written three adult novels. Most of her books are for children/teenagers. This is the second adult novel I've read of hers. I really enjoyed her book Summer Sisters. But Wifey.....oh, boy. The only reason I kept reading it was because I was hoping the main character's life would get better. This book was about a very unhappy woman trapped in a marriage who could see no way out. It was full of meaningless, empty sex. At first it depressed me but.....after I thought about it........it made me so very thankful for my life now. All my friends, The Editor, my son, etc. I'm so glad my life is full of people who are not shallow like the people in this book. I'm still going to read her third novel in the hopes that it will be as good as Summer Sisters. I wouldn't recommend Wifey to anyone....especially someone who is in an unfulfilling relationship right now. It certainly wouldn't give you any answers to your problems.

BOOK REVIEW

TITLE - TASTE OF HONEY

AUTHOR - EILEEN GOUDGE

ON A SCALE OF 1 THRU 10 =

10

This is the second book in a trilogy about a town called Carson Springs. Really enjoyed this one!

HOLIDAY TREE - EASTER!

HAPPY EASTER EVERYBODY!

PICTURES OF MY LATEST CROSS STITCH PROJECT!

THIS IS THE CROSS STITCH PROJECT I'M STARTING NOW.

THIS IS ME SETTING OUT THE PATTERN. IT HAS 42 PAGES, OVER 20,000 STITCHES JUST IN BLACK, 90 COLORS AND THE FINISHED SIZE WILL BE ABOUT 26 x 35.

IT WILL TAKE ME SEVERAL YEARS TO FINISH THIS. IT WILL NEED TO STAY IN ONCE PLACE BECAUSE IT IS TOO BIG TO CART AROUND. I'M GOING TO LEAVE MY BIG STAND-ALONE HOOP AT THE EDITOR'S HOUSE AND WORK ON IT THERE ONLY SINCE I'M GIVING IT TO HIM AFTER I'M FINISHED!

ISN'T FELICITY, THE EDITOR'S CAT, CUTE?

I TOLD THE EDITOR THAT HE CAN'T BREAK UP WITH ME UNTIL I'M FINISHED WITH THIS PUPPY!

I FINISHED IT!

So here's a picture of my last cross stitch project when I was about half-way through.

Here's the finished product. It took me almost a year!

MODERN LIBRARY - CRITIC'S 100 TOP BOOKS - BOOK REVIEW - #4

TITLE - LOLITA

AUTHOR - VLADIMIR NASBOKOV

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10:

6

Well, okay........I've seen both movie adaptations.......but this book was hard for me to read. The writing style wasn't hard......but Lolita's comments made me uncomfortable and I just felt so bad for her. I wanted with all my heart for her to get away from him. Humbert Humbert...shame on you. I was so pissed off at him through the whole book and wanted to help her. I also think this book was too long....I felt like it drug on and on and on.

100 BEST NOVELS

So the Editor and I found this list online at www.randomhouse.com/modernlibrary/100bestnovels.com.

It has two different lists of 100 books each......The Board's List...........The Reader's List. I decided that I would try to start reading these books in order.....starting with The Board's List. I've read some of these books, including #2 on the list which is The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I loved that book. Anyway, I tried to read #1 - Ulysses by James Joyce. I never made it through even the first chapter. Just didn't like it. The same for #3 which was also by James Joyce - a Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. I got through the first 60 pages (1/4) and then applied my little reading test which is if I get that far in a book and I don't care whether the characters live or die....I stop reading it. So now, I'm starting #4 - Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. I can't put it down! I've seen both movies made from the book and I think the book is gonna be even better!

Check out the first few sentences of Lolita:

Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-Lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.

SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION

So the Editor and I went to a Science Fiction Convention in Memphis this weekend. Lots of fun. He actually wanted to go this year because they added several science fiction writer workshops to the convention. He and I were both hoping that I wouldn't be bored. I HAD A BLAST. I thought the workshops were really interesting. We went to several of them. Here are a few of the workshops we attended: Strong Woman Characters, Exploring and Experiencing Creativity, Roundtable with Publishers and Editors, Are Agents Necessary, Writing Great Openings, I Finished My Manuscript, Now What?

They also had a room for the Authors to set up booths so they could sell their books. That was really cool. Books, T-Shirts, Games, Jewelry, Artwork...........all with a science fiction theme.

We've already decided we wanna go back next year. We were there for two days but I'm hoping we stay three days next year.

I got to meet C.J. Cherryh which was really cool. Also, there were lots of people in costume. They had a costume contest and that was fun too. Lots of space-shippy characters there...including this dude:

BOOK REVIEW

AUTHOR - BRIAN JACQUES

TITLE - MARIEL OF REDWALL

ON A SCALE OF 1 THROUGH 10 =

10

I think this was the best Brian Jacques book so far. I'm reading them one by one. He's written around 15 and this was the fourth, I think, in the series.