Monday, January 30, 2012

Mondays: Mailbox/What Are You Reading?/Musings

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at A Girl and Her Books. Alyce  is hosting it on her at home with books

I received four novels, thanks to the authors/publicists.



Arctic Fire by Paul Byers:

A brutal storm damages a man-made iceberg destined for New York and the Chief Engineer, Gabriel Pike has serious doubts about the true intentions of the project. A grisly double homicide puts the inspection on hold as he’s accused of being the murderer in a lover’s triangle. But Pike soon discovers that there is far more at stake than just his own life.

ugly to start with by John Michael Cummings:
 Jason Stevens is growing up in picturesque, historic Harpers Ferry, West Virginia in the 1970s. Back when the roads are smaller, the cars slower, the people more colorful, and Washington, D.C. is way across the mountains—a winding sixty-five miles away.

Jason dreams of going to art school in the city, but he must first survive his teenage years. He witnesses a street artist from Italy charm his mother from the backseat of the family car. He stands up to an abusive husband—and then feels sorry for the jerk. He puts up with his father’s hard-skulled backwoods ways, his grandfather’s showy younger wife, and the fist-throwing schoolmates and eccentric mountain characters that make up Harpers Ferry—all topped off by a basement art project with a girl from the poor side of town.

Ugly to Start With punctuates the exuberant highs, bewildering midpoints, and painful lows of growing up, and affirms that adolescent dreams and desires are often fulfilled in surprising ways.


Songs for the New Depression:
Gabriel Travers knows he's dying; he just can't prove it. Despite his doctor's proclamations to the contrary and rumors of a promising new HIV drug cocktail, all it takes is one glance into the mirror to tell Gabe everything he needs to know. His ass, once the talk of West Hollywood, now looks suspiciously like a Shar-Pei, prompting even more talk around town.

The only happiness he could remember was in high school, where he'd met Keith, his first love. Only Keith had recognized the goodness within, and knew of the brutal attack Gabe had faced, the effects of which still rule his life today.

Now almost 40, and with the clock ticking, Gabe begins to finally peel back the layers and tackle his demons - with a little help from the music of the Divine Miss M and his mom's new wife, a country music-loving priest.

Gods and Fathers by James LePore

Matt DeMarco is an accomplished Manhattan attorney with more than his share of emotional baggage. His marriage ended disastrously, his ex-wife has pulled their son away from him, and her remarriage to a hugely successful Arab businessman has created complications for Matt on multiple levels. However, his life shifts from troubled to imperiled when two cops – men he's known for a long time – come into his home and arrest his son as the prime suspect in the murder of the boy's girlfriend.

Suddenly, the enmity between Matt and his only child is no longer relevant. Matt must do everything he can to clear his son, who he fully believes is innocent. Doing so will require him to quit his job and make enemies of former friends – and it will throw him up against forces he barely knew existed and can only begin to comprehend how to battle.


It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila of Book Journey

I read a few e-novels
I am in the midst of reading:
Many books!

How far along are you in your current read before you start thinking about what you’ll read next?

I don't plan my next read at all...!!


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Saturday, January 28, 2012

Saturday Snapshot: January 28, 2012


I am with my second cousins' children. I cherish this photo becos, the boy you see here, has down's syndrome, and I don't know what he saw in me or felt about me, he simply came and hugged me. According to my cousin, he seldom does that to anyone except for his immediate family. I had only seen him once before, when he was a wee little baby, and wasn't as yet diagnosed. That girl is his younger sister. 

Posted for Saturday Snapshot, hosted by Alyce of At Home With books

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Booking Through Writing or Riveting?

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What’s more important: Good writing? Or a good story?

I think we have answered this before. Although I want both in novel and good writing minus a good story might interest me for a while but it doesn't for the whole novel. Without a good story, writing falls flat.  

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Teaser Tuesdays: The Litigators by John Grisham

Come on, Wally, you can do it. Give 'em hell and please don't collapse.

~~~Page 330, The Litigators by John Grisham

Monday, January 23, 2012

Mondays: Mailbox/What Are You Reading?/Musings

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at A Girl and Her Books. Alyce  is hosting it on her at home with books

I received a writing Journal from Stacy. I am gonna write poetry in that. Thanks Stacy!!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila of Book Journey.

I read the following:

1) The Litigators by John Grisham
2) With This Kiss by Victoria Lynne


I am in the midst of reading:

Many books!

Why do you think that the Young Adult genre is so popular with even the adult readers? Do you read YA books, yourself?

I am not sure why YA is popular with adult readers. I don't really read YA stuff. Maybe something which is totally different might interest me. I don't like the fantasy stuff, or the teenage jargon. They do not stimulate me. Give me ADULT fiction any day!

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Saturday Snapshot: January 21, 2012

My youngest Auntie!

Lush Flora at her place!
Posted for Saturday Snapshot, hosted by Alyce of At Home With books

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Booking Through Skipping


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Do you skip ahead in a book? Do you feel badly about it when you do?

For some books, I have skipped chunks. Geographical descriptions and author's philosophical thoughts fall under those categories, which made me skip. And also when the author get repetitive.

I have not really felt bad skipping. Why should I? There is so much more to read. Why waste time on boring parts?

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Saturday Snapshot: January 14, 2012

all alone!
Click on it to see a bigger photo!
Posted for Saturday Snapshot, hosted by Alyce of At Home With books

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Booking Through Interview II




1. What’s your favorite time of day to read?

Anytime if I on the reading mode...

2. Do you read during breakfast? (Assuming you eat breakfast.)

No, as I am getting ready to go for work

3. What’s your favorite breakfast food? (Noting that breakfast foods can be eaten any time of day.)

Oatmeal with nuts!

4. How many hours a day would you say you read?

It depends. Some days 10 hours, others none!

5. Do you read more or less now than you did, say, 10 years ago?

I am reading less nowadays.

6. Do you consider yourself a speed reader?

Yes.

7. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

To read even faster.

8. Do you carry a book with you everywhere you go?

Yes, I do.

9. What KIND of book?

Fiction/Poetry depending on my mood

10. How old were you when you got your first library card?

I don't remember, maybe 6 years!

11. What’s the oldest book you have in your collection? (Oldest physical copy? Longest in the collection? Oldest copyright?)

A leather bound Romeo and Juliet, which belonged to my mom. She inherited from her dad! It is from 1916!

12. Do you read in bed?

Yes, but on a regular basis.

13. Do you write in your books?

No, I don't

14. If you had one piece of advice to a new reader, what would it be?

Read at your own pace. Don't fret. Enjoy the words, the writing...

15. What question have I NOT asked at BTT that you’d love me to ask? (Actually, leave the answer to this one in the comments on this post, huh? So I can find them when I need inspiration!) 

I will let it pass for now.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Teaser Tuesday: Ryan's Return by Barbara Freethy

"Maybe I just want to know you again," Ryan said finally. "You're my father. I'm your son. It seems as if we should be closer than we are."

Title: Ryan's Return
Author: Barbara Freethy
ISBN: 978-0380785315
Publisher: Avon/2006
Pages: 374

It is return of the prodigal son to Serenity Spring. A famous photo-journalist now, Ryan Hunter is invited for the Centennial Celebration. He had left behind his father and a brother he had betrayed. Now when he returns, he finds his father still the same, his brother who detests him and a young boy who looks like him.

With no love lost between them, Ryan knows he has to somehow face his past if he wants to moves in present and future. His father,who never stopped loving him, that young daughter of Kara has so much faith on him. So he just can't leave it all behind.

The interaction between father and son, between the two brothers and that of the young girl with Ryan and also a love affair of Andrew, his brother. These all make the book very readable. It is in no way a heavy book, but it does make us sad at many levels. It has those comic moments, especially when the two brothers are locked up in jail. 

I found this novel utterly sweet and extremely readable. The romance element is sweet and doesn't take over the story. That is how it should be, in a novel that speaks of family relations.

You can download the kindle edition for FREE here!