Tuesday Intro/Teaser: Doll God by Luanne Castle for poetic book tours

Serena Agusto-Cox of Savvy Verse & Wit has started promoting poetry at POETIC BOOK TOURS. The author sent me a copy of the book for review.

it began
a mirror for good

the child's round nose
seed-pearl teeth

doubled by the bundle
she cradled in her

arms, then hung
by one of its

limbs or curved belly...

~~~Prototype, Doll God by Luanne Castle 

Title: Doll God

Author: Luanne Castle
ISBN: 978-0692334881
Publisher: Aldrich Press/2015
Pages: 86

With beautiful imagery, softness and at times gut wrenching, this debut collection of poetry touches the heart.

At times, I paused and savored the poems. There is violence, yet redemption. There is that rawness that hits the guts, yet childlike.

I liked the second poem, From Both Sides, which chipped the mountain, the mighty mountain which always stands tall....

Doll Gods are so endearing, so lovable. There is whole gamut of emotions imbued in those. The poems are reflective, mirror our inner most thoughts and have a sense of purpose...

A few poems also comment on the scientific reality of life, yet the metaphysical and spirituality is never far away...

Man made and natural objects get juxtaposed here, blended so very seamlessly....

I am a poet myself. I really enjoyed reading the collection and look forward to more of her work...

Musing Mondays

Musing Mondays is a weekly meme that asks you to write about anything related to books.

I am one of those who has never tried to listen to audio books. Maybe I should. I don't know to go about it. Can anyone recommend free audio books? What apps should I download to listen to audio books on my tab?


 THIS WEEK’S RANDOM QUESTION: What do you think about re-purposing old books (eg. into art journals, etc)? Why?

I have not thought about it. Maybe, the  time has come for me to think about it. It is a creative art and I ought to pursue it....

Monday: Mailbox/What Am I Reading?

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists. It has finally found a permanent  home at Mailbox Monday with the following new administrators:

Leslie of Under My Apple Tree
Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit
Vicki of I'd Rather Be at the Beach

I received two books, thanks you the authors/publicists:

Trigger Warning by Neil Gaiman: It is a spectacular blend—twenty-five pieces in all—of horror and ghost stories, fabulism and poetry, science fiction and fairy tales that explore the realm of experience and emotion. A writer whose creative genius is unparalleled, Gaiman entrances readers with his literary alchemy, transporting us deep into the realm of imagination, where the fantastical becomes real and the everyday incandescent. Full of wonder and terror, surprises and delights, TRIGGER WARNING is a dazzling gift that will engage the mind, stir the heart, and shake the soul. 


Doll God by Luanne Castle: Luanne Castle's debut poetry collection, Doll God, studies traces of the spirit world in human-made and natural objects--a Japanese doll, a Palo Verde tree, a hummingbird. Her exploration leads the reader between the twin poles of nature and creations of the imagination in dolls, myth, and art.

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Hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. We discuss the books that we've read and what we're planning to read for the week.

I have only been reading romance novels since August 2014. Beginning from Jan 1, 2015, I have finished more that 43 novels till date. I am feeling good but I know I need to read serious stuff. Maybe in the next two months, I will do that!

The Sunday Post/Sunday Salon: 2014, a recap...

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

2014 was a great year for me, reading wise. I had set a goal of reading of reading 150 novels but I ended up reading much more than that. I have added 352 books on READ list in Goodreads for 2014. But I have read more. I will add those too but it will take a while. It is also true that  I have read exclusively romances since September 2014.

Work wise too it was productive. I became the examination in-charge of my school. There are 4300+ students and it is no mean feat to conduct exams. However, I am capable of handling any kind of responsibility.

I have not achieved much in the personal front. I thought I met someone to spend my life with but it hasn't worked out......

I have not been blogging much, what with  work pressure but that has not stopped me from reading. Buying a tab has also helped my reading. I download books and carry it everywhere and read on my spare time.....

Maybe I will do a post about my best reads in 2014 but not today.....

Saturday Snapshot: Dec 27, 2014

Haven't done Saturday Snapshot for some time now.

In School

Raising a toast with school friends

Being in a Bar is barred!!

Signing the books I gifted to my friends

Posting for Saturday Snapshot, hosted by Melinda of West Metro Mommy

Tuesday Intro/Teaser: Once a Ferrara Wife by Sarah Morgan

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

"Oh, just look at that. Three cars with blacked out windows have just pulled up. And those men look like bodyguards. and ---oh, my you have to look, dear, it's like something out of a movie. I swear they have guns. And the most gorgeous man you've ever seen has just stepped onto the tarmac. He's got to be at least six foot three and spectacular to look at! And what sort of man needs all that security? I wonder who he's meeting?

"Me." Laurel rose to her feet with all the enthusiasm of a condemned man preparing to walk to the gallows. "His name is Cristiano Domencio Ferrara and he's my husband."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once a Ferrara Wife by Sarah Morgan

Laurel comes back to Sicily to attend her best friend's wedding. Her best friend is her estranged husband's sister. Laurel and Cristiano are in the midst of a divorce. Laurel has trust issues and there is a huge misunderstanding between them. 

Right from the beginning there is angst, tension, anger and contempt. Intense, so intense that, with so much emotions and feelings. Cristiano does not understand why Laurel walked out on him. And Laurel is not willing to say much.

As soon, Cristiano finds out, we see him making amends. He is not averse to expressing his emotions. Laurel is the one who has problems doing that. 

The dialogues are very good. And it is a great emotional journey throughout the novel. The way Cristiano gifts Laurel one of her fairy tales dreams is very endearing. He is a hero worth loving and so macho that he is not at all afraid to show his feelings for Laurel to everyone. 

I have read a lot of Sarah Morgan novels after this. An romance author worth reading. Go for her novels.

Musing Mondays: October 27, 2014

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits

Many a times  I read till 3 am. Even if the next day is a working day. I can't sleep unless I have finished what I have been reading.

Monday: Mailbox/What Am I reading?

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists. It has finally found a permanent  home at Mailbox Monday with the following new administrators:

Leslie of Under My Apple Tree
Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit
Vicki of I'd Rather Be at the Beach

I received two books this past week, thanks to the publicist:

Both the novels are techno-thrillers...

Death Never Sleeps by E. J. Simon

Death Logs In by E. J. Simon

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Hosted by Sheila @ One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. We discuss the books that we've read and what we're planning to read for the week.

It has been around three months and I have only been reading romances. Life has been kinda busy so reading romances seems like light reading. I have finished more that 230 novels till date. My goal was to read 150. I am feeling good but I know I need to read serious stuff. Maybe in the next two months, I will do that!

Saturday Snapshot: October 25, 2014

This is Diwali week. Posting pictures of that.

Posting for Saturday Snapshot, hosted by Melinda of West Metro Mommy

24 Hour Readathon: Hour 24 & End of Event meme

End of event meme–

A Readathon tradition! In your final Readathon post, answer these questions and then link to it with the Mr. Linky, below.

Which hour was most daunting for you?

Hour 7 as it was past midnight in my part of the world.

Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?

Romance Novels and Crime Fiction novels, me thinks!

Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

Too few cheerleaders on my blog. I wish that to be changed.

What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?

Dunno....

How many books did you read?

I read 4 novels. All of those romances. 

What were the names of the books you read?

Craving the Forbidden by India Grey 
Runaway Fiancee by Sally Wentworth
Shattered Dreams by Sally Wentworth
Secret Admirer by Susan Napier

Which book did you enjoy most?

Craving the forbidden

Which did you enjoy least?

NA

If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?

Visit, visit, vist

How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?

I am NOT likely to participate in the readathon again. I have not felt like a welcome participant since the last few readathons. That fails the purpose.