So Many Precious Books, So Little Time: May 2011

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Giveaway: The Beauty Chorus by Kate Lord Brown

Thanks to Devon Pool of McArthur and Company, I am giving away one copy of The Beauty Chorus to one of my Canadian readers. See my review, here.

Book Description:

New Year's Eve, 1940: Evie Chase, the beautiful debutante daughter of a rich and adoring RAF commander, listens wistfully to the swing music drifting out from the ballroom, unable to join in the fun. With bombs falling nightly in London, she is determined that the coming year will bring a lot more than dances, picnics and tennis matches. She is determined to make a difference to the war effort.

5th January, 1941: Evie curses her fashionable heels as they skid on the frozen ground of her local airfield. She is here to join the ATA, the civilian pilots who ferry Tiger Moths and Spitfires to bases across war-torn Britain. Two other women wait nervously to join up: Stella Grainger, a forlorn young mother who has returned from Singapore without her baby boy and Megan Jones, an idealistic teenager who has never left her Welsh village. Billeted together in a tiny cottage in a sleepy country village, Evie, Stella and Megan must learn to live and work together. Brave, beautiful and fiercely independent, these women soon move beyond their different backgrounds as they find romance, confront loss, and forge friendships that will last a lifetime.

To Enter:

Leave a comment with your email address, so I can contact you if you win.

Extra Entries: (please leave a separate comment for each, for instance you you are a follower, leave 3 comments that you are a follower).

+3 Old or new follower of this blog.

+3 Old or new follower on Twitter (@teddyrose1).
+2 Tweet about this Giveaway (Up to 1 time per day)

+3 Be my friend on Facebook (Teddy Rose).

+3 "Like" the post about this giveaway on Facebook

+3 Be my friend on Goodreads (Teddy).
+3 for Joining my Books Won Reading Challenge (be sure to follow the rules and then let me know you joined here.)

+ 3 for following my Premier Virtual Author Book Tours

+4 for filling out the Tour Host Interest Form (please do this if you have a book blog and you are serious about wanting to be a tour host)

+2 for each comment on a book review I have done. (Be sure to tell me which ones).

+1 for clicking to give free food at The Animal Rescue Site (tell me you did it).( Up to 1 time per day)

+1 for clicking to give free books at The Literacy Site (tell me you did it). ( Up to 1 time per day)

That's 31 or more possible entries! Sorry, this giveaway is only open to Canada.

The winner's mailing address: No P.O. Boxes

Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule, which means that if you win the same title in two or more contests, you will receive only one copy of the book.

This giveaway will end on Tuesday June 14th, 11:59 P.M. E.S.T. The winners will be notified by email. Winners must respond within TWO days or will be disqualified.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 1:27 PM 42 comments

Labels: My Past Giveaways

Different Lives by Kate Lord Brown, author of The Beauty Chorus

When I was asked to be a tour host for Kate Lord Brown and her book, The Beauty Chorus, I jumped at the chance. I wondered how the woman of the ATA decided to go from their sheltered lives to the ATA. Today, Kate is here to give me her answer. Please welcome Kate Lord Brown to So Many Precious Books, So Little time.

I asked myself exactly that question – how did these women go from their somewhat sheltered lives and join the Air Transport Auxiliary? They did an incredibly dangerous job, flying anything anywhere across war-torn Britain, ferrying everything from Spitfires to huge bombers to the fighter squadrons. They flew without radios, without arms. The bravery and modesty of these women just blew me away – when you speak to surviving veterans, they say they were just ‘doing their job’. These were the women that inspired ‘The Beauty Chorus’.

I think crucially, they also say that it was the most extraordinary time of their lives. If you think back to wartime, it was a unique opportunity for women to fly – and after the war many of them had to go back to ‘real’ life – there just wasn’t much chance for women to fly commercially. So, you had women joining from all over the world. In all 166 women joined the ATA, and they had pilots from 28 countries. Women came from Canada, the US, from as far away as Asia (like the character Stella). You had debutante party girls who had been part of the privileged pre-war flying scene like Evie, and you had young inexperienced girls like Megan who could fly a plane but not drive a car.

Can you imagine how thrilling and terrifying it must have been to join a boat bound for England, having to avoid the Nazi attacks on boat convoys on the way over, and then finding yourself flying these incredibly powerful planes? The women came from all walks of life, and the only thing they had in common was wanting to ‘do their bit’ for the Allied war effort, and their love of flying. The true story of their skill and bravery blew me away, and The Beauty Chorus I hope pays testament to this. They were amazing women, and it was a privilege uncovering their story. It was a remarkable time when women worked alongside men on equal terms and for equal pay – and I hope Evie, Stella and Megan reflect the strength and bravery of the real Spitfire girls.

KLB

Kate studied Philosophy at Durham University, and Art History at the Courtauld Institute of Art. She is currently taking a Masters degree. She worked as an art consultant, curating collections for palaces and embassies in Europe and the Middle East, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She was a finalist in UK ITV’s the People’s Author competition in 2009. Her debut novel ‘The Beauty Chorus’ is published by Atlantic in 2011.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 12:01 AM 8 comments

Labels: Guest Author, Guest Authors/ Interviews

Monday, May 30, 2011

The Beauty Chorus by Kate Lord Brown

It is New Years Eve, 1940 and Evie Chase is determined to make a difference in the war effort. On January 5th, 1941 she enlists in the ATA to ferry across WWII Britain. Her father is a wealthy RAF commander and is not happy with her decision and takes away her allowance, but Evie sticks to her principals and moves into a mice infested cottage with two other new members of the ATA, Stella and Megan.

Stella is the mother of a baby boy but has left him with her parents in law. She is trying to sort out her feelings regarding her "dead" husband. Megan is a teenagers from a Welsh village, who has left for the first time.

Together the three woman train together and live together and become fast friends and allies. Once they start ferrying planes, Evie meets a pilot from the U.S.A. and falls in love. They are engaged to be married when tragedy strikes and her fiancé is killed in combat. Stella and Megan also find love.

Beau is the trainer of the three woman and one of their commanders. He and Evie mix together like cats and dogs most of the time. He is also engages to a rich girl that he grew up with but the relationship is quite rocky. He was burned badly in combat and she called off the engagement. She abandoned him when he needed her most and then when he was better, came back and begged forgiveness. Can he forgive and does he want to?

Despite the fact that just about everything that happened in this book was totally predictable, I did enjoy it. I knew nothing about the ATA and learned about its history. The characters were well thought out and three dimensional. You could call this book a character study. That is it's true strength. I would have liked a bit more plot and surprise. I knew what was going to happen with each character well before it happened with only a couple of exceptions.

This is Kate Lord Browns first book and a good attempt. I am looking forward to seeing how she grows with her writing. If you like character studies and want to learn more about the ATA in WWII, this is a book for you.

3/5

Thanks to Devon Pool of McArthur and Company and to Net Galley for this book. Please watch for a guest post from Kate Lord Brown tomorrow.

Did you review this book? Please post the link in the comments.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 4:21 PM 6 comments

Labels: Books Read in 2011, WWII

Friday, May 27, 2011

The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner

Back in June 2010, I posted my review of this fabulous book. I am posting it again in celebration of the Virtual Book Tour. Please be sure to come back here on June first for C.W. Gortner's guest post and a giveaway!

Shortly after I finished reading and reviewing The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner, I asked him if I could review The Confessions of Catherine de Medici when he was finished writing it. I loved The Last Queen and I wanted more by this talented author.

I'm so glad that he agreed!

In this fictional memoir, Catherine De Medici, the last of the Italian Medicis, is sent to France as a young woman to marry Henri, the son of King Francois. Henri has no interest in Catherine, as he has a mistress, Diane le Poithers, that he is very much in love with. After years of not having a child together due to lack of trying, Catherine is forced to bargain with Diane to have a heir and secure her future in France. They come to an understanding and Diane even stays in the room while Catherine and Henri have sex, coaching them into different positions that will help Catherine become pregnant.

They finally have heirs but what Catherine doesn't bargain for, is that Diane raises her children. The later come to resent Catherine for that arrangement, even though it was beyond her control.

After Henri dies Catherine seizes power to secure the crown for her sons. Four of her sons became King, in succession but Catherine either served as regent or advisor to each of them.. She tried to broker peace and tolerance between the Catholics and the Protestant Huguenots again and again.

History has labelled Catherine De Medci as an evil witch, as Queen of France however, C.W. Gortner shows a different side of her. He treats her in a much more balanced view, as a mother, friend, lover, and Queen. He pulls this off smoothly and keeps the pages turning in a fury to see what happens next.

A lot of the story focused on the conflict between the Catholics and the Protestant Huguenots. Although Gortner had to do this, I thought the story got just a little bit bogged down with all of the details. This is a very minor flaw and otherwise the story seems flawless.

I don't know what Gortner's next book will be about but I can hardly wait! I'd love to review it Christopher.

4.5

Thanks to Cheryl C. Malandrinos of Pump Up Your Book and C.W. Gortner for this book and for letting me part of the tour.

Also reviewed by:

The Blue Stocking Society
Whimpulsive
Devour of Books
A Girl Walks into a Bookstore

Enchanted by Josephine

All Things Royal

The Maiden's Court
Passages to the Past
Historical-Fiction
The Burton Review

If you reviewed this book, be sure to leave your link in the comments.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 12:01 AM 0 comments

Labels: Tour

Friday, May 20, 2011

Giveaway: Ripe For Pleasure by Isobel Carr

Thanks to Brianne Beers of Hachette Book Group, I am giving away up to 3 copies of Ripe for Pleasure by Isobel Carr.

Book Description:

Second in line, first in love
A secret society of younger sons, sworn to aid and abet each other, no matter the scandal or cost.... Their fathers and brothers may rule the world, but they run it . . . and when it comes to passion, they refuse to accept second best.

Searching for hidden treasure,finding forbidden fantasy.
London's most sensual former courtesan, Viola Whedon, is incapable of being seduced-she does the seducing. Until she meets Leonidas Vaughn. Her salacious memoirs have made her the target of half the lords in England, and Vaughn is the only man she can turn to. When he promises to protect her-and to make her beg for his touch-the alluring beauty finds both offers impossible to refuse.

Leonidas Vaughn secretly believes Viola possesses a fortune given to his family by the King of France. So the strong and sexy Vaughn charms his way into Viola's life . . . and her bed. But when their arrangement is consummated, he'll experience pleasure far beyond his wildest fantasies-and realize his heart may need the most protection of all.

About the Author:

ISOBEL CARR is single, child-free, and a committed "dog person" (the bigger the dog the better). She has taught creative writing, horseback riding, and seminars on historical costuming. She can start a fire without matches and hitch a team of horses to a wagon. She can also spend nine hours in a Victorian corset without a problem but can't wear heels for more than four hours. She laughed all the way through every episode of Colonial House, and if she could only watch one movie for the rest of her life, it would be Impromptu.

The number of entrants to this giveaway will determine how many copies of this book I will giveaway:

1-10 entrants= 1

11-20 entrants = 2

21-or more entrants = 3

To Enter:

Leave a comment with your email address, so I can contact you if you win.

Extra Entries: (please leave a separate comment for each, for instance you you are a follower, leave 3 comments that you are a follower).

+3 Old or new follower of this blog.

+3 Old or new follower on Twitter (@teddyrose1).
+2 Tweet about this Giveaway (Up to 1 time per day)

+3 Be my friend on Facebook (Teddy Rose).

+3 "Like" the post about this giveaway on Facebook

+3 Be my friend on Goodreads (Teddy).
+3 for Joining my Books Won Reading Challenge (be sure to follow the rules and then let me know you joined here.)

+ 3 for following my Premier Virtual Author Book Tours

+4 for filling out the Tour Host Interest Form (please do this if you have a book blog and you are serious about wanting to be a tour host)

+2 for each comment on a book review I have done. (Be sure to tell me which ones).

+1 for clicking to give free food at The Animal Rescue Site (tell me you did it).( Up to 1 time per day)

+1 for clicking to give free books at The Literacy Site (tell me you did it). ( Up to 1 time per day)

That's 31 or more possible entries! Sorry, this giveaway is only open to U.S. and Canada.

The winner's mailing address: No P.O. Boxes

Only one entry per household/IP address

Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule, which means that if you win the same title in two or more contests, you will receive only one copy of the book.

This giveaway will end on Saturday June 4th, 11:59 P.M. E.S.T. The winners will be notified by email. Winners must respond within TWO days or will be disqualified.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 12:01 AM 50 comments

Labels: My Past Giveaways

Monday, May 16, 2011

BEA or Bust

Who's going to the BEA? Please comment, so I can look for you there!

Last year I attended the first ArmChair BEA. We had a lot of fun and this year it is suppose to bigger and better. If you can't go to the BEA I highly recomend The ArmChair BEA.

I put away money all year so that I can attend this years BEA in New York City. I is amazing how it came together for me. My brother found out that I wanted to go and called his best friend who lives in NYC and he offered his keys to his apartment as he will be out of town. Accommodations was going to be my biggest expense, so I then had no excuses not to go.

Not only will this be my first time at the BEA and Book Blogger's Convention but it will be my first time at NYC. I am excited and overwhelmed all at the same time.

I am going to NYC early, May 19th so I can get my bearing and get some sightseeing in. My 19 year old niece, Rachel is going with me, although she won't be attending the BEA. I'm looking forward to doing some sightseeing with her and taking in a show.

There have been some tips for the BEA from bloggers that have been there before. I have been reading them over and thought it would be nice to post links here, for everyone who is going this year:

Post BEA: What I Learned by Caribousmom

Beyond “Wear Comfortable Shoes!”—Tips You May Not Have Thought of for Book Expo America by Book Blogger's Convention

20 Tips to Survive BookExpo America & the Book Blogger Convention by The Girl From the Ghetto

Do you have any tips for the BEA? If you are attending and want to make sure we meet up at some point, email me at teddyr66 at yahoo dot com.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 11:10 PM 6 comments

Labels: BEA 2011

To All My Dear Readers

As many of you know, Blogger had some pretty extreme technical difficulties this past weekend. Although all my posts are back up where they belong, I am missing some comments.

If you notice your comments missing from any of my posts, please comment again. I love comments!

Thanks!

Posted by Teddy Rose at 10:11 PM 2 comments

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday now has it's very own blog, Mailbox Monday. It is also on tour and is being hosted by Mari Reads in May.

I reviewed the following books last week:

I saw this book on Shelf Awareness and requested an eBook arc. Isn't the cover gorgeous? It is a book of short stories and I just reviewed the first story, Havana, here.

I am very selective on accepting self published books but since I am hopeless with cars (I can't even change a flat tire) I thought this would be a good book for me.

Sourcebooks offered the eBook version of this book for free this last weekend so I pounced on it. There have been some very positive reviews of it.

What books did you receive?

Posted by Teddy Rose at 9:59 PM 4 comments

Labels: Mail Box Mondays

Havana by Suzanne Kamata

Recently a book of short stories was advertised an Shelf Awareness, The Beautiful One Has Come by Suzanne Kamata. I read about it and became intrigued, so requested the eBook ARC.

This past weekend, I read the first story, Havana.

Alica hadn't seen her old Japanning friend and college roommate, Nagisa in years. After graduating Nagisa married a Jiro for his "good salary and mild disposition. They moved to Havana, Cuba for Jiro's work and had two children.

Alicia and Nagisa kept in touch and Nagisa invited Alica to come to Havana. Nagisa arranged for her driver, Javier to take Alicia anywhere she wanted to go ti sight see. He took her to Ernest Hemingway's' house.

"Alicia has never been a big Hemingway fan—all those macho stories about hunting and bullfighting and war! She has never even read The Old Man and the Sea, but his house was one of the few places on the tourist map that she could think of."

After, Alicia wanted to get something to eat so Javier took her to a restaurant that Hemingway used to eat at, La Terraza. She asks him to come in to eat with her, her treat. Javier, knows his place and that he could be fired but Alicia insisted. Javier gets nasty looks from people in the restaurant who also know his place but Alicia was oblivious to it.

When Javier brought Alicia back to the house, she tried to give him $100, the same amount he was paid for his monthly salary. He politely refused but again, Alicia insisted and put it in his pocket. Later Alicaia thinks to herself:

"Is Javier attracted to me? In her mind, she picks through every moment of the day, trying to come up with a significant look or gesture. The way he had opened the car door for her, the way he had bumped his knees against hers under the restaurant table."

Alicia noticed right away when she arrived to Havana that Nagisa had changed. While roommates they did all kinds of fun things together, dancing meeting boys, drinking, and smoking pot, just to name a few. Now Nagisa hardly leaved her house. Alicia suggested that they go out to Salsa together while she's there but Nagisa says that she has too look after the children. Instead she said that she would pay Javier to work late the next day and he would take her.

You will have to read the story to find out what happens next. The writing is bright and poetic and the character development was excellent for such a short story. I can tell already, that Suzanne Kamata is a true artist of the short story. I am looking forward to reading more stories in the book. Highly recommended.

If you would like to participate in Short Story Mondays, go to John of The Book Mine Set. He has a short story review every Monday and a place for you to link your short story review. Come join in the fun and add to my short story TBR!

Posted by Teddy Rose at 9:42 PM 3 comments

Labels: Short Story Read in 2011

Friday, May 13, 2011

Blog Tour Giveaway: Going Cowboy Trouble and Make Mine a Bad Boy by Katie Lane

Thanks to Brianne Beers of Hachette Book Group, I am giving away one copy of each book to one lucky winner.

Description for Going Cowboy Trouble:

Faith Aldridge wants answers. Bramble, Texas is the only place she can find them . . . as well as Hope, the identical twin sister she never knew she had. But the townsfolk reckon that shy city-girl Faith is really her long-lost sister Hope, back in Bramble at last. And they're fixin' to do whatever it takes to heat things up between her and Hope's long-time flame, Slate Calhoun. If that means rustling her car, spreading rumors like wildfire, and reining in some explosive secrets, well, there's no way like the Lone Star way . . .

But Slate's no fool. The woman in his truck may look like Hope, yet the way she feels in his arms is altogether new. He's determined to keep this twin in his bed and out of his heart. Trouble is, the real Hope is headed home, and she's got her own designs on Slate. If Faith wants to avoid heartbreak, she'll have to show a certain ruggedly handsome cowboy that this crazy-impossible love is worth fighting for.

Description for Make Mine a Bad Boy:

Hope Scroggs is finally ready to get hitched. After years of sowing her wild oats, the former head cheerleader and homecoming queen has returned to Bramble, Texas, to marry her high school flame. But her perfect wedding plans are stomped to smithereens when her adoring cowboy two-steps down the aisle with someone else. Now Hope is stuck with the one man from her past she can't shake: Colt Lomax, an irresistible bad boy whose sultry kisses are hotter than the Panhandle in August . . .

Colt lives for freedom and the open road; he never gets attached, never looks back. Still, he can't forget the night of passion he once shared with Bramble's sweetheart--a night he wouldn't mind repeating. So, he piles on the Texas charm to tease the feisty beauty back into his bed, while she tries her darnedest to resist. But something unexpected is about to tie their fates together . . . and oh, baby, will it ever!

Katie's Website: www.katielanebooks.com

To Enter:

Leave a comment with your email address, so I can contact you if you win.

Extra Entries: (please leave a separate comment for each, for instance you you are a follower, leave 3 comments that you are a follower).

+3 Old or new follower of this blog.

+3 Old or new follower on Twitter (@teddyrose1).
+2 Tweet about this Giveaway (Up to 1 time per day)

+3 Be my friend on Facebook (Teddy Rose).

+3 "Like" the post about this giveaway on Facebook

+3 Be my friend on Goodreads (Teddy).
+3 for Joining my Books Won Reading Challenge (be sure to follow the rules and then let me know you joined here.)

+ 3 for following my Premier Virtual Author Book Tours

+4 for filling out the Tour Host Interest Form (please do this if you have a book blog and you are serious about wanting to be a tour host)

+1 for each comment on a book review I have done. (Be sure to tell me which ones).

+1 for clicking to give free food at The Animal Rescue Site (tell me you did it).( Up to 1 time per day)

+1 for clicking to give free books at The Literacy Site (tell me you did it). ( Up to 1 time per day)

That's 31 or more possible entries!

Sorry, the giveaway is only open US and Canadian residents only.
The winner’s mailing address: NO P.O.Boxes.
Only one entry per household/IP address

Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule, which means that if you win the same title in two or more contests, you will receive only one copy of the book.

This giveaway will end on Monday, May 30th,11:59 P.M. E.S.T. The winners will be notified by email. Winners must respond within TWO days or will be disqualified.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 12:01 AM 92 comments

Labels: My Past Giveaways

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

House Arrest by Ellen Meeropol

Emily Klein is a home care nurse. For the most part, she really likes her job, going to visit people in their homes to care for them. However, her new assignment is different. She wants to get out of it but her boss won't budge. So now she has a new patient, Pippa Glenning, she is a pregnant cult member under house arrest for the death of her daughter during a Solstice Ceremony.

"The morning after last year's solstice, the family had searched for the toddlers in the blowing, drifting snow. All day they hunted and the next and the next, taking turns staying with the twins." Pippa- Page 27

There are two cult members in jail for the death, awaiting trail and Pippa is left with trying to keep the household going without them. She was a 16 years old runaway when one of the cult members, Francie, found her and brought her home to the cult. It was the first time she ever felt acceptance.

Pippa and Emily grow to trust each other and even have a kind of friendship. However, what Pippa asks her to do to cause her to lose her job. As the pregnant woman of the cult this year, she is expected to dance for Isis at the Solstice Ceremony. She needs to find a way to leave home to do this and want Emily to help her.

Emily has other issues going on in her life as well. Her father was arrested and put in prison while she was a child. Her mother eventually commits suicide and leaves Emily with her aunt. She has been running away from this her entire adult life. It all comes to a head when her grandfather dies and she is expected to go home to face her extended family including her aunt.

She also lives with her cousin with a daughter with Spina Bifida, Zoe. Emily is always home by the time Zoe gets home from school to care for her. She loves Zoe like she's her own daughter.

Will Emily risk her career and even face possible arrest to help Pippa beat the house arrest to attend the Solstice Ceremony? I highly recommend you read this book to find out.

This is a book chalk full of well developed and quirky characters. The plot and subplot are well thought out and richly developed. House Arrest is a compelling book that kept me reading until the last page. I truly did not want this book to end. This is Ms Meeropol's first novel, I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

4.5/5

I won a advance readers copy of this book from Rose City Reader.

Did you review House Arrest? I would love to read your thoughts on it! Please leave a link in the comments and I will post it here.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 9:50 PM 3 comments

Labels: Books Read in 2011

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Deadly: How to Catch an Invisible Killer by Julie Chibbaro

It is 1906, New York City and 16 year old Prudence Galewski takes a job as an assistant to the Head Epidemiologist, Mr. Soper. Prudence has always been interested in science and feels very fortunate to land a job in the field. It is practically unheard of for a woman to get such a job. In fact, some of the men in the lab give her a hard time.

Soon after starting her and Mr. Soper start investigating a new outbreak of Typhoid. They visit the different families who have the dreaded disease and write down all of the different foods they have eaten and take samples from their septic systems. Soon Prudence finds a food that links all of the families, peach ice cream. It turns out that they all have a cook who has worked for all of them, who made the peach ice cream for them.

It was recently discovered by a scientist that disease could be carried by a healthy person. The person doesn't get sick but can pass the illness on to others.

"The challenge ahead of us is to find this elusive cook and test her for the typhoid germ by examining her body fluids."

The cook, Mary Mallon has moved around a lot but Prudence and Mr. Soper finally tracks her down. She refuses to get tested, she can't understand how she could make people sick when she, herself is not sick.

Mary Mallon was a real person who was to become known as Typhoid Mary. Julie Chibbaro takes a piece of history and runs with it. She developed her main character Prudence well and we see her learn and grow. As I read the story I kept thinking to myself, "you go girl, show people that not all women should be chained to a house with no other aspirations."

Deadly is geared for young adults. It deals with issues of disease, feminism, and family. It also explores ethical issues. I think it would make for great discussion for a young adult book club. Though there is science in the book, it is well explained in fairly simple terms. I highly recommend it!

5/5

Julie Chibbaro held a giveaway of this book herself and I was fortunate enough to be one of the winners.

Did you review this book? Please leave a link in the comments so I can post it here.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 10:18 PM 3 comments

Labels: Books Read in 2011, Historical Fiction

Monday, May 9, 2011

Stolpestad by William Lychack

I received an eBook of a short story collection from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, called The Architect of Flowers by William Lychack. I've had it for quite awhile now and thought I would give it a try. I read the first story, Stolpestad.

Told in second person, present tense, Stolpestad is an over worked cop who is finally at the end of his shift when he gets a call asking him to go see a 9 year old child and his mother.

"End of your shift—or nearly so—and in comes the call over the radio. It’s Phyllis, dispatcher for the weekend, and she’s sorry for doing this to you, but a boy’s just phoned for help with a dog. And what’s she think you look like now, you ask, town dogcatcher? Oh, you should be so lucky, she says and gives the address and away we go."

When he arrives the boy brings him to see his dying dog. His mother asks Stolpestad to put the dog down and out of his misery. He agrees.

Later, while off duty, a now drunk Stolpestad is confronted by the boy and his father, in front of his own home.

"And before you even open your mouth, he’s stepping forward and thanking you for your help—the man shaking your hand, saying how pleased, how grateful, how proud, how difficult it must have been—but his tone’s all wrong, all snaky, a salesman nudging his boy ahead to give you—and what’s this?"

At first, I had a hard time getting into this story. I don't like second person narration, to be honest. I find it clumsy, using you instead of I or the person's name. I have a feeling many writers agree with me because I have rarely come across it in all my years of reading. However, the story itself was a good one with excellent character development. You can read it here. I look forward to read more of the stories in this book.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 10:23 PM 10 comments

Labels: Short Story Read in 2011

Sunday, May 8, 2011

May Reviews for 2011 ARC Reading Challenge

The standings so far:

Working Towards Bronze Level:

Amused-11
Beth-10

Debbie-5

Freda-9

Jessica-1

Teddy-8

Bronze Achieved:
Heather-12
Yvonne-12

Working on Silver:
Donna-14

Level Gold:

Andrea-25
Sarah- 25

Level Platinum:

Julie-48

Nicola-76

Please post the books you read in May for the challenge in Mr. Linky, below:

*Note: if you missed posting your links last month, please always post "late" links in the current month's Mr. Linky. For example, if you forgot to post a link in February, please post it on this Mr. Linky in this post.

Please enter your name and the name of the book in this format: Name: (Your Name, Book Title and Author's Name) for example: (Teddy, Obsessive Reading by Helen Reader).

Posted by Teddy Rose at 6:18 PM 3 comments

Labels: 2011 Challenge Progress

May Reviews for 2011 Books Won Reading Challenge

The standings so far:

Honorable Mentions: Read 1-3 books won:

Jessica- 3

Tea-1

Bronze: Read 4-6 books you won:

Julie-5
LuAnn-4

Please post the books you read in May for the challenge in Mr. Linky, below:

*Note: if you missed posting your links last month, please always post "late" links in the current month's Mr. Linky. For example, if you forgot to post a link in February, please post it on this Mr. Linky in this post.

Please enter your name and the name of the book in this format: Name: (Your Name, Book Title and Author's Name) for example: (Teddy, Obsessive Reading by Helen Reader).

Posted by Teddy Rose at 5:42 PM 0 comments