tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72736442520585088822024-03-13T01:35:57.990-06:00A Small Accomplishment"It is a small kind of accomplishment, I suppose." - Elizabeth BennettJulie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.comBlogger185125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-90694548188069292802011-04-26T14:22:00.000-06:002011-04-26T14:22:35.279-06:00Review: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255740234l/6218281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255740234l/6218281.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie<br />
by Alan Bradley<br />
Mystery, Historical Fiction<br />
374 pages<br />
published: 2008<br />
4.5 of 5 stars<br />
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<b>About</b><br />
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<i>It is the summer of 1950–and at the once-grand mansion of Buckshaw, young Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison, is intrigued by a series of inexplicable events: A dead bird is found on the doorstep, a postage stamp bizarrely pinned to its beak. Then, hours later, Flavia finds a man lying in the cucumber patch and watches him as he takes his dying breath.<br />
For Flavia, who is both appalled and delighted, life begins in earnest when murder comes to Buckshaw. “I wish I could say I was afraid, but I wasn’t. Quite the contrary. This was by far the most interesting thing that had ever happened to me in my entire life.” </i>- from Goodreads<br />
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<b>Reaction</b><br />
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I don't read many mysteries, and must confess that the "mystery" is usually the least interesting part of the story for me, so I was surprised to find myself happily reading Flavia's ruminations. I can attribute this only to the awesomeness that is Flavia de Luce. She is indefatigable. (Ha! Never thought I'd actually use that silly word!) She is refreshing. And precocious is not the right word for her. (But I'll discuss that later.) If it wasn't Flavia solving this mystery, I would have not cared a wit. But it was!<br />
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I loved how she tormented her sisters.<br />
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Quote alert: "I found a dead body in the cucumber patch,' I told them. <br />
How very like you,' Ophelia said, and went on preening her eyebrows."<br />
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I loved her drive and curiosity and spunk and chutzpah and independence. I love that she was rarely scared and always had a plan. I love that she named her bike and treated it like a horse. I loved her love of chemistry and poison. I loved her allusions and well-read-ed-ness. She was amusing. She was bubbling under that surface all the time, and yet so very....English on the outside.<br />
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Quote....right now: "Anyone who knew the word slattern was worth cultivating as a friend."<br />
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I don't have my book on hand to look up other things that tickled my fancy. Dang it. But I loved that she loved herself, even though she thought no one else did. How refreshing among all the characters out there who struggle for any personal sense of worth! <br />
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Now, about the writing. Yummy. A winking fest of happy meaning-rich words and allusions. I found I couldn't read it as rapidly as I normally do. I must have been wallowing.<br />
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My one caveat? The reason this isn't a glowing 5 star rating? Well, as much as I loved Flavia, she isn't a believable 11 year old. Qualifier: isn't a believable 11 year old <i>all </i>of the time. Sometimes she reeks of eleven-ity. Her response to a dead person, her petty revenge, her occasional naivete, her energy and creativity...all were very 11. But I just couldn't swallow the depth of her chemistry, literature, and music knowledge. But I mentioned I loved it, you squawk?! I did. I do. I forgave her. I moved past it. I don't really care. You might, but I made my peace. Perhaps she is a prodigy. Perhaps she is writing this looking back. Whatev.<br />
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I enjoyed nearly every moment of this novel. Highly recommend.Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-49171251513443235152011-04-25T16:50:00.000-06:002011-04-25T16:50:42.818-06:00Listful Mondays: Books from Vacation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrG5Ki8qSfEh9M54rtRn5WQ4nhyrxr_gqiWjE1buZaYkSe1UER8SuViCpFzlYpgX032TmdIeWTS0GWV65bBBEXEom2rtEBM5gW5HHImPV4DCa8gvt3czsX6ixSm-qYFBdabp7qWc8ownQ/s1600/ListFulMondaysTilt.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrG5Ki8qSfEh9M54rtRn5WQ4nhyrxr_gqiWjE1buZaYkSe1UER8SuViCpFzlYpgX032TmdIeWTS0GWV65bBBEXEom2rtEBM5gW5HHImPV4DCa8gvt3czsX6ixSm-qYFBdabp7qWc8ownQ/s200/ListFulMondaysTilt.png" width="173" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Books We Brought Home from Vacation</div><div style="text-align: center;">(or The Books We Bought at my Favorite Used Book Store in my Home Town)</div><ol><li>Feed by M. T. Anderson (For my dystopian collection.)</li>
<li>Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry (Remembered from childhood - just don't remember anything but the cover.)</li>
<li>The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander (Replacement for our tattered copy.)</li>
<li>Dragons of Deltora: Shadowgate by Emily Rodda (Book 2)</li>
<li>Dragons of Deltora: Isle of the Dead, Sister of the South (Books 3 & 4)</li>
<li>Deltora Quest: books 5 - 8 (We got confused and thought we found a whole series by one of Jadyn's favorite authors. Not so. There are 3 different <i>related</i> series. Stink.)</li>
<li>Starbridge by A.C. Crispin</li>
<li>Ancestor's World by A. C. Crispin (These are Scott's.)</li>
<li>Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder (This was the one I was missing! Serendipitous!)</li>
<li>Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary (Never read anything by her, but loved the movie.)</li>
<li>Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder (The specific printing to match my set from childhood, replacing my spine-broken copy.)</li>
<li>The Seventh Tower: Into Battle (Book 5)</li>
<li>The Seventh Tower: The Violet Keystone (Book 6. We have 1 - 3. Now we just need book 4.)</li>
<li>Whirligig by Paul Fleischman (Replacement for a Loaning Casualty.)</li>
<li>Redwall by Brian Jacques</li>
<li>Mossflower by Brian Jacques</li>
<li>Mattimeo by Brian Jacques</li>
<li> Mariel of Redwall by Brian Jacques</li>
<li>Salamandastrom by Brian Jacques</li>
<li>Martin the Warrior by Brian Jacques (We had no Redwall books, but Scott played the audiobook for the older kids and they loved it. I'm sure the store had all the rest of them too, but I had to draw the line <i>somewhere</i>.)</li>
</ol>I am home, possibly recovered, and thinking about books and blogging. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCSfJI-wiUE5-vtqPdYu12MKdCH_77HV_ZGsRPk94T-5TKSKEn5pmId9bWwDVzEZrGkFJqy9y3fd8N1HCUmlKwMG48a72eKlZ5bY0GwfI8oyeECgZ6YvBYErH5a7PMmqxAtOJ-3tEgAE/s1600/IMG_7121.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCSfJI-wiUE5-vtqPdYu12MKdCH_77HV_ZGsRPk94T-5TKSKEn5pmId9bWwDVzEZrGkFJqy9y3fd8N1HCUmlKwMG48a72eKlZ5bY0GwfI8oyeECgZ6YvBYErH5a7PMmqxAtOJ-3tEgAE/s400/IMG_7121.JPG" width="400" /></a>Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-47829278267008567822011-04-05T10:34:00.000-06:002011-04-05T10:34:53.408-06:00Review: My Double Life by Janette Rallison<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1276243533l/6658565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1276243533l/6658565.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>My Double Life<br />
by Janette Rallison<br />
YA, contemporary<br />
265 pages<br />
published: 2010<br />
4 of 5 stars<br />
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<b>About</b><br />
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<span id="freeText12631791616363495935"><i>Her whole life, Alexia Garcia has been told that she looks just like pop star Kari Kingsley, and one day when Alexia's photo filters through the Internet, she's offered a job to be Kari's double. This would seem like the opportunity of a lifetime, but Alexia's mother has always warned her against celebrities. Rebelliously, Alexia flies off to L.A. and gets immersed in a celebrity life. Alexia must stay true to herself, which is hard to do when you are pretending to be somebody else!</i> - from Goodreads</span><span id="freeText12631791616363495935"></span><b><span id="freeText12631791616363495935"> </span></b><br />
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<span id="freeText12631791616363495935">I love reading Rallison's books because they are fun, easy to like, moral, and uplifting. That isn't to say they don't deal with real issues, but somehow she keeps them from being dark or overbearing. Quite the reverse. This one might well be my second favorite of hers. (My Fair Godmother would be hard to upstage.)</span><span id="freeText12631791616363495935"></span><span id="freeText12631791616363495935"> </span><br />
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<span id="freeText12631791616363495935">Things I enjoyed about My Double Life:</span><br />
<ul><li><span id="freeText12631791616363495935">Alexia was a real girl to me. And not just a real girl, but a girl who wanted to be a good person.</span></li>
<li><span id="freeText12631791616363495935">The plot, through all it's twists and surprises and even all that seemed unlikely at first, turned out very believable to me.</span></li>
<li><span id="freeText12631791616363495935">That in the midst of trying to do the best thing, Alexia didn't always <i>do</i> the best thing. Not because she was weak, but because sometimes the questions are hard to answer. Sometimes "right" gets clouded and confused. Sometimes "right" has more than one answer.</span></li>
<li><span id="freeText12631791616363495935">The adults weren't just stupid and uninvolved. I appreciate when teenage characters comes to realize that their parents/advisers/adults might actually know what they are talking about. </span></li>
<li><span id="freeText12631791616363495935">The secondary characters were not flat people. They had their own issues and strengths and often surprised me.</span></li>
<li><span id="freeText12631791616363495935">There was romance, heartbreak, misunderstandings, tantrums, epiphanies and witty conversations. Everything needful for a good time.</span></li>
</ul><span id="freeText12631791616363495935">Recommended For: </span><span id="freeText12631791616363495935">I have no compunctions recommending anything Rallison has written to anyone. Her books are clean and fun and real. Go for it!</span><span id="freeText12631791616363495935"> </span>Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-67463830367694246842011-04-04T23:45:00.001-06:002011-04-05T08:10:33.659-06:00Listful Mondays: My Favorite Thieves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjxNhy_Qu6twLnguZqJw8hseAqYr_157FKJubyI3Flo0w8YTj3v2-n2Zo6WuLn1_BsP2n9qspcE7yaBJyerLGE3P3uj7cez_Wwbo9kbz51h4vWDqkBZbYfkzC6L_445Q-Rp5zR4Cm9M0/s1600/ListFulMondaysTilt.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjxNhy_Qu6twLnguZqJw8hseAqYr_157FKJubyI3Flo0w8YTj3v2-n2Zo6WuLn1_BsP2n9qspcE7yaBJyerLGE3P3uj7cez_Wwbo9kbz51h4vWDqkBZbYfkzC6L_445Q-Rp5zR4Cm9M0/s200/ListFulMondaysTilt.png" width="173" /></a></div>I'm not sure why, but some of my all-time favorite characters have been thieves. Loving those rascals has become so ingrained that I automatically like a new thieving character, before he or she has had a chance to prove themself, simply because they <i>are </i>a thief. How is this possible? I don't condone dishonesty in real life! Perhaps it has to do with their incorrigible mischievousness. Or maybe their amazing skills at sneaking and slight of hand. Or their personal set of morals that, while twisted slightly, always have a certain value and loyalty. Maybe they are just impressive and fun. They are such <i>expedient</i> people. They get things done. Ingenious. Creative. Daring. I would want those thieves on my side. If I were to be thrown into a fantasy story all my own I would either want to <i>be </i>the thief, or I would <i>love </i>the thief.<br />
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So my list today is about those adorable thieves. Surprisingly, when I actually set down to write the list, there were fewer names on it than I had thought there would be. Either my brain is failing me, or these few thieves have all the credit my undying devotion.<br />
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My Favorite Thieves:<br />
<ol><li>Gen from The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (The Queen's Thief series)</li>
<li>Tasslehoff Burrfoot from The Dragonlance series by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman</li>
<li>Silk and Velvet from The Belgaraid and the Mallorean by David Eddings</li>
<li>Jimmy the Hand from the Rift War saga by Raymond E. Fiest</li>
<li>George (the King of Thieves) from the Lioness Rampart series by Tamora Pierce</li>
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I would like to know who I have missed. Who are you favorite thieves? Do you know any of my favorites? Or do you find me morally corrupt to fancy thieves in the first place?Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-3592374148658568942011-04-02T08:58:00.001-06:002011-04-02T08:59:39.227-06:00Review: Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone by Dene Low<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255605495l/6277972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255605495l/6277972.jpg" /></a></div>Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone<br />
by Dene Low<br />
YA, Historical Fiction<br />
208 pages<br />
Published: 2009<br />
4 of 5 stars<br />
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<b>About</b><br />
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<i><span id="freeText10327420782515719013">You would think Petronella’s sixteenth birthday would be cause for celebration. After all, fashionable friends are arriving at her country estate near London, teas are being served, and her coming out party promises to be a resplendent affair. Everything is falling nicely into place, until, suddenly—it isn’t. For Petronella discovers that her guardian, Uncle Augustus T. Percival, has developed a most unVictorian compulsion: He must eat bugs. Worse still, because he is her guardian, Uncle Augustus is to attend her soiree and his current state will most definitely be an embarrassment.<br />
During the festivities, when Petronella would much rather be sharing pleasantries with handsome Lord James Sinclair (swoon), important guests are disappearing, kidnapping notes are appearing, many of the clues are insects, and Uncle Augustus is surreptitiously devouring evidence. It’s more than one sixteen-year-old girl should have to deal with. But, truth be told, there is far more yet to come . . . </span></i><span id="freeText10327420782515719013">-from Goodreads</span><br />
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<b><span id="freeText10327420782515719013">Reaction</span></b><span id="freeText10327420782515719013"> </span><br />
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<span id="freeText10327420782515719013">This book is a good time. It is an amusing satire of high society. It is mildly disgusting, and contains much to stretch (even shatter) your belief. But you want to know something? So what! I enjoyed it. One big reason <b>why </b>was the writing.</span><span id="freeText10327420782515719013"> </span><br />
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<span id="freeText10327420782515719013">This was one of those books that really <i>uses</i> language - uses words that have meaning and connotations, putting "big" words together into sentences that makes you sigh with relief. Like stretching. The ecstasy of using your mind and working your vocabulary! The beauty of words strung together to sound like music! It's like pulling on my favorite pair of pajama pants, or taking a deep breath when I didn't realize I was in a stuffy room. Enough metaphors? All right. But I need a word for this kind of book because I can think of at least one other I will review soon that falls into this category. Ideas? Please...</span><span id="freeText10327420782515719013"> </span><br />
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<span id="freeText10327420782515719013">So, this book doesn't take itself seriously, and that is refreshing for a book that takes place in this time period. Petronella really wants to do the right thing (and have some adventure) and doesn't want to hurt her uncle, but she still cares about society.... It is a quandary! Her swooning over James is comical in the sense that I felt it was making fun of all the other well-known swooning.</span><span id="freeText10327420782515719013"> </span><br />
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<span id="freeText10327420782515719013">Only the four main characters have any depth. Every single authority figure is ridiculous. The phrase "bumbling idiots" comes to mind. This was so blatant that it was obviously done on purpose. It created the dynamic, found in so many other YA books, of the children having to solve the problems on their own. It was interesting to see the dynamic used <i>without</i> having unloving, uninvolved guardians, as is the norm. I had the privilege of listening to Dene Low talk about her book, and she mentioned this book was written as an outlet while working on her dissertation. She was frustrated with academia and authority in general, and suddenly Petronella's world made sense to me.</span><span id="freeText10327420782515719013"> </span><br />
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<span id="freeText10327420782515719013">So. This book is an uplifting, sniggering kind of good time. Have fun!</span><br />
<span id="freeText10327420782515719013"> </span>Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-66855307570138494242011-03-28T11:44:00.007-06:002011-04-26T11:40:17.847-06:00Book Read in 2011<ol><li>The Naming - Alison Croggon</li>
<li>The Riddle - Alison Croggon</li>
<li>The Princetta - Anne-Laure Bondoux</li>
<li>Sea Change - Aimee Friedman</li>
<li>Daring Chloe - Laura Jensen Walker</li>
<li>Tyger Tyger - Kersten Hamilton</li>
<li>The Sugar Queen - Sarah Addison Allen</li>
<li>My Double Life - Janette Rallison</li>
<li>Savvy - Ingrid Law</li>
<li>Magic Study - Maria V. Snyder</li>
<li>Fire Study - Maria V. Snyder</li>
<li>Jane - April Lindner (re-read)</li>
<li>These is My Words - Nancy Turner (re-read)</li>
<li>Restoree - Anne McCaffery (re-read)</li>
<li>Wicked Becomes You - Meredith Durans</li>
<li>Along for the Ride - Sarah Dessen</li>
<li>When You Reach Me - Rebecca Stead</li>
<li>84, Charing Cross Road - Helene Hanff</li>
<li>Snow - Tracy Lynn</li>
<li>Bright Blue Miracle - Becca Wilhite</li>
<li>The Replacement - Brenna Yovanoff</li>
<li>The Ruins of Gorlan - John Flanagan</li>
<li> Mistwood - Leah Cypress</li>
<li>Spindle's End - Robin McKinley</li>
<li>Alanna: the First Adventure - Tamora Pierce</li>
<li>In the Hand of the Goddess - Tamora Pierce</li>
<li>The Woman who Rides like a Man - Tamora Pierce</li>
<li>Lioness Rampart - Tamora Pierce </li>
<li>The Dark Divine - Bree Despain</li>
<li>Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone - Dene Low</li>
<li>You Bet - Jennifer Crusie (re-read)</li>
<li>By the Light of the Moon - Luanne Rice (re-read)</li>
<li>The Crow - Alison Croggon</li>
<li>The Singing - Alison Croggon</li>
<li>The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie - Alan Bradley</li>
<li>The Last Aprentice: Revenge of the Witch - Joseph Delaney</li>
<li>Poison Study - Maria V. Snyder (re-read)</li>
<li>The Wizard of Earthsea - Ursula K. Le Guin </li>
</ol>Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-75332626882170518792011-03-28T09:42:00.000-06:002011-03-28T09:42:46.507-06:00Listful Monday: Why I Really Want to Blog Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWZOVFwHScY91gK4tZObDwU0LvMyF2cu3PkIN7J0VHgYGwO3lzyE6OeijniigGpDzSTnGWrtWYnH9XQmwmTNcWtCZs5y8mvbmVfODBaP3Y129vANuuRLigAinwsQSJTUbEkZVYrn9L1g/s1600/ListFulMondaysTilt.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWZOVFwHScY91gK4tZObDwU0LvMyF2cu3PkIN7J0VHgYGwO3lzyE6OeijniigGpDzSTnGWrtWYnH9XQmwmTNcWtCZs5y8mvbmVfODBaP3Y129vANuuRLigAinwsQSJTUbEkZVYrn9L1g/s200/ListFulMondaysTilt.png" width="173" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Why I Really Want to Blog Again</i> or <i>Reasons I Miss Book Blogging</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(In no particular order) </div><ol><li>I miss sharing the books I've read.</li>
<li>I miss reading reviews and getting excited about the new books coming out.</li>
<li>Writing keeps me sane. I am so currently not sane.</li>
<li>I miss comments and community. My world is rather myopic sometimes.</li>
<li>I hate giving up, especially if it's something I don't actually want to give up.</li>
<li>I've been reading awesome stuff.</li>
<li>I actually have things to say and ideas to post about.</li>
<li>I want to take more pictures of my chair and fix up my background.</li>
<li>I love the sound of the keys as my fingers fly across them.</li>
<li>I write reviews in my head while I'm in the shower or driving the car or waiting for kids or cooking dinner. AND REVIEWS ARE MUCH BETTER <i>OUT</i> OF MY HEAD. I need to set them free....</li>
</ol>I miss you blogging. Things are a bit smoother here at home and I'm redoubling my efforts. The ice is cracked. I hope I'm back.Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-62973373582440373582011-03-25T13:43:00.001-06:002011-03-25T13:44:39.753-06:00Review: Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1268836107l/7740225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1268836107l/7740225.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>Tyger Tyger<br />
by Kersten Hamilton<br />
YA Fantasy<br />
322 pages<br />
published: 2010<br />
5 of 5 stars<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>About</b><i><span id="freeText10072955401195141469"> </span></i><br />
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<i><span id="freeText10072955401195141469">Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.<br />
Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming. </span></i><span id="freeText10072955401195141469">- from Goodreads</span><b><span id="freeText10072955401195141469"> </span></b><br />
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<b><span id="freeText10072955401195141469">Reaction</span></b><span id="freeText10072955401195141469"> </span><br />
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<span id="freeText10072955401195141469">I love the name Finn. It's on my list. And here is another Finn to drool over. You want adjectives? Here you go: brave, strong, self-assured, kind, 'feral,' clever, handsome. But he gets knocked down a peg or two...we wouldn't want anybody <i>too</i> flawless.</span><span id="freeText10072955401195141469"> </span><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText10072955401195141469">But really, this a <i>book</i> review, not a <i>Finn</i> review. I loved the whole book. I loved all the secondary characters. This book made me laugh out loud. (I'm not really a laugh-out-loud-er. I takes a lot.) The dialogue was so witty and real to me. I would read a scene and then immediately read it again, out loud to whoever would listen. I loved the myths and history. I loved the gruesome and scary. I loved the magic and plot twists. There is heartache. There is romance. There is dumpster diving, goblin maggots, music, darkness, and hope. This book is not a wimp. Like a friend said to me, I'm just mad I'm NOT a goblin.</span><span id="freeText10072955401195141469"> </span><br />
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<span id="freeText10072955401195141469">Setting fantasy in our world is a hard thing to do right. Sometimes I won't even read a book once I find out it fits into that category. BUT, when it is done right it rocks. Many of my favorites follow this pattern. And for me, Tyger Tyger is done <i>right</i>. I want the next book yesterday.</span>Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-35610335289251519772011-03-24T14:58:00.000-06:002011-03-24T14:58:34.822-06:00Review: The Naming by Alison Croggon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1278370869l/393146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1278370869l/393146.jpg" width="136" /></a></div>The Naming<br />
by Alison Croggon<br />
Fantasty<br />
published: 2001<br />
528 pages<br />
4 of 5 stars<br />
<br />
<b>About</b><br />
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<span id="freeText9426443493547118176"><i>Maerad is a slave in a desperate and unforgiving settlement, taken there as a child when her family is destroyed in war. She doesn't yet know she has inherited a powerful gift, one that marks her as a member of the noble School of Pellinor and enables her to see the world as no other can. It is only when she is discovered by Cadvan, one of the great Bards of Lirigon, that her true identity and extraordinary destiny unfold. Now, she and her mysterious teacher must embark on a treacherous, uncertain journey through a time and place where the forces of darkness wield an otherworldly terror.</i> - from Goodreads</span><br />
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<b><span id="freeText9426443493547118176">Reaction</span></b><br />
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<span id="freeText9426443493547118176">I loved the ride. It feels like it has been a while since I sank my teeth into a good epic fantasy. There was meat here. I loved the world, the history, the descriptions, and the characters. I've been reading a lot of YA (which is usually sparing on description) and found myself salivating over the passages that fully described a room, a forest, or a fight. I love the paintings the words create in my head. I was submerged in that world. The world building wasn't overdone to me. I was never overly confused, and certainly not bored. I especially loved the relationship of the two main character, the former slave girl and her inadvertent rescuer. They liked each other, usually, trusted each other, but didn't, and loved each other, but refused to show it.</span><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText9426443493547118176">Now, for the record, no one is going to hand you this book and say, "Here! You've never read anything like this!" This book is archetypal fantasy to its core. It's all there: light vs dark, endless journeys, prophesied savior, apprenticeship, magic, hidden kingdoms, ambushes, secret identities.... But it is what I love about epic fantasies. World building. Escapism. Seeing how far you can take a human character.</span><span id="freeText9426443493547118176"> </span><br />
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<span id="freeText9426443493547118176">I am heading to the library today to pick up the next book. Can't wait.</span><br />
<span id="freeText9426443493547118176"> </span>Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-23767832548572351262010-09-20T22:39:00.004-06:002010-09-20T22:43:33.655-06:00Review: Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n65/n328018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n65/n328018.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>Voices of Dragons<br />
by Carrie Vaughn<br />
Fantasy, YA<br />
309 pages<br />
published: 2010<br />
3 of 5 stars<br />
<br />
<b>About</b><br />
<br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeText5236952440800435955"><i>On one side of the border lies the modern world: the internet, homecoming dances, cell phones. On the other side dwell the ancient monsters who spark humanity's deepest fears: dragons. <br />
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Seventeen-year-old Kay Wyatt knows she's breaking the law by rock climbing near the border, but she'd rather have an adventure than follow the rules. When the dragon Artegal unexpectedly saves her life, the rules are abruptly shattered, and a secret friendship grows between them. <br />
<br />
But suspicion and terror are the legacy of human and dragon interactions, and the fragile truce that has maintained peace between the species is unraveling. As tensions mount and battles begin, Kay and Artegal are caught in the middle. Can their friendship change the course of a war?</i> - from Goodreads</span><b><span class="reviewText" id="freeText5236952440800435955"> </span></b><br />
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<b><span class="reviewText" id="freeText5236952440800435955">Reaction</span></b><span class="reviewText" id="freeText5236952440800435955"> </span><br />
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<span class="reviewText" id="freeText5236952440800435955">I love dragons. Really I do. Even the bad ones. How could I resist this book? I couldn't. And I enjoyed it just fine. There were dragons, a dragon culture, a dragon history, flying with the dragon...enough to make me want more (as in wish they were <i>more</i> present in the book and to be happy to read further in the series) of Vaughn's dragons. The main human character was likable enough too. I liked her physical prowess at outdoor sports, her guts, and her loyalty to her friend. I also liked that she had two involved parents. I was even intrigued by the 'history' of the world (which is our current world, sorta) and the explanations of how everything got to the point of the story.</span><br />
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<span class="reviewText" id="freeText5236952440800435955">I did have some difficulties though. At first I felt the writing and tone suggested a book for a younger audience. It felt simple. I was all prepared to adjust my expectations to a that level, when a preoccupation with sex started to get too much 'screen' time. (Or more accurately, the lack of sex.) So no, there wasn't any 'mature' scenes, but there was discussions and the implication that the main character was weird because she didn't want to join the crowd. There did end up being a <strike>slight </strike>point to it all, but it was distracting and made the book unfit for youngers. Then I was just confused. What was the book trying to be?</span><span class="reviewText" id="freeText5236952440800435955"> </span><br />
<br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeText5236952440800435955">Thankfully, it hit it's stride about half way through when the conflict and action caught up to the other subject matters. Much better. It redeemed itself and I'm interested in reading the second, which seems like it might not have such a rocky beginning - considering it will have a kick start from the cliff hanger at the end of book one.</span><span class="reviewText" id="freeText5236952440800435955"> </span><br />
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<span class="reviewText" id="freeText5236952440800435955">Bottom line: This book is good for older teens who like fantasy, and particularly dragons. I don't think it is enough in itself to start a love of dragons, but that probably isn't anyone's goal. Except maybe mine.</span>Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-68896626963965767802010-09-20T21:57:00.000-06:002010-09-20T21:57:00.306-06:00Listful Mondays: Reasons to Step Out of Your Bookish Comfort Zone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGxaMAdFRSG44XCXaFd3K7yTi8_VEmZ_GdHzrz9ulVizw5XT6ynLYqmzKry9mpWKoo9fea7L7NGRksqYl5hFJzn8FpKQh_FaRYVRGO7apsUNvA3pNzxpOE_AK7dPsTz4Qh4Yws7uj5Cw/s1600/ListFulMondaysTilt.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGxaMAdFRSG44XCXaFd3K7yTi8_VEmZ_GdHzrz9ulVizw5XT6ynLYqmzKry9mpWKoo9fea7L7NGRksqYl5hFJzn8FpKQh_FaRYVRGO7apsUNvA3pNzxpOE_AK7dPsTz4Qh4Yws7uj5Cw/s200/ListFulMondaysTilt.png" width="173" /></a></div>Listful Mondays!! Hopefully everything will be back to the regularly scheduled program.<br />
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Saturday was the Utah Book Bloggers Summer Social. It is the fourth one, but the first that I have been to. My husband stayed home with the kids and I caught a ride with Suey (<a href="http://sueysbooks.blogspot.com/">It's All About Books</a>). Nervous to meet a park full of strangers? Yes.<br />
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Reasons to Step Out of Your Bookish Comfort Zone...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXa2ruWQH4Ey5TyW-bsB7-TtXPmxfsFnc28KTT9J4ahwK80NFU9F7xt-6pIwguDWD75wxoMfrqzuESLSJhQo-hr4VJbg7SL319d55_o6M8L5pPc8iOQr1J33PIP9MN7Nn0z2Dp5WK3BaQ/s1600/IMG_4471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXa2ruWQH4Ey5TyW-bsB7-TtXPmxfsFnc28KTT9J4ahwK80NFU9F7xt-6pIwguDWD75wxoMfrqzuESLSJhQo-hr4VJbg7SL319d55_o6M8L5pPc8iOQr1J33PIP9MN7Nn0z2Dp5WK3BaQ/s320/IMG_4471.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><ol><li> Book Bloggers are really nice and rather sedate.</li>
<li>Cool new and not-so-new local authors to see.</li>
<li>Getting to put my name in the new author's ARC so I can be on the blog tour.</li>
<li>Bringing home 2 new books from the book swap, one from a <i>different </i>new local author.</li>
<li>Getting out of the house without children. (A phenomenon so exciting is eclipsed the nerves. Mostly.)</li>
<li>Putting faces with names and sites.</li>
<li>Actually talking to some of the bloggers, and not just the ones I already knew.</li>
<li>Having one blogger pause while passing me and my name tag (which we write out blog names on) and exclaim, "Ooh, I love your blog!"</li>
<li>Not having anyone spoil Mockingjay.</li>
<li>Listening to the conversations. Yes, listening. For a while I had an author conversation going on one side, and a book conversation going on the other. My attention swiveled from one side to the other.</li>
<li>Comfy camp chairs and fresh air. (Ha! There was so much wind we almost blew away. I had to shower all the grit off when we got home. But it was fresh!)</li>
<li>Knowing that the next time I will feel more comfortable and might even speak up a bit. (At least among book people, they don't look at you too strangely for your shyness/anti-social tendencies. They either empathize or are used to it.)</li>
</ol>I have sat on this posts for weeks because I couldn't find the time or organization skills to put up all the links to all the bloggers who attended. I can't sit anymore, so I'm cheating. Please click over to <a href="http://sueysbooks.blogspot.com/2010/08/sunday-salon-utah-book-bloggers-party.html">It's All About Book</a>s (Linked you twice - ha Ha!) and see more (better) pictures and links to the awesome attendees. Phew. Now I can move on.Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-69393689517346345812010-09-19T23:50:00.000-06:002010-09-19T23:50:05.935-06:00Review: The Fairy's Return and other Princess Tales by Gail Carson Levine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172520008l/183652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172520008l/183652.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>The Fairy's Return and other Princess Tales<br />
by Gail Carson Levine<br />
MG, Fairy Tale<br />
400 pages<br />
published: 2002<br />
2 of 5 stars <b>/ </b>4 of 5 stars<br />
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<b>About</b><br />
<br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeText5889600879279000373"> <i>What would you do if diamonds and rubies tumbled out of your mouth every time you spoke? Well, that's what happens to Rosella after a run-in with a misguided fairy in The Fairy's Mistake. If you were turned into a toad, would you pine after your prince as much as Parsley does in For Biddle's Sake? </i><br />
<i> The road to happily-ever-after is never easy, but the masterful touch of Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine will keep readers laughing their way through these fresh retellings of popular fairy tales. -</i> from Goodreads<br />
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Just to be clear, this is a book of short stories. I recall being disappointed when that realization hit me after I had grabbed this book at the school book fair.<br />
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<b>Reaction</b><br />
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After the initial shock of having a volume of short stories subsided, I began to enjoy this little book. The stories where cute retellings with a sense of humor. I happily skipped my way through the first few, delighted and thinking about how pleasant these will be for Jadyn. They weren't very deep or earth-shattering, but sweet and moral and clever.<br />
<br />
Around the half way point, I changed my mind. What had been charming and amusing, became repetitive and ridiculous. My momentum diminished and then died. I doubt I would have finished if I hadn't stuck it in a place where I could pick it up when boredom overcame my annoyance with the book. The stories became so repetitive, in fact, that now I can't separate them in my head. Help!<br />
<br />
Yet, there is a silver lining. I gave this to Jadyn, the target audience, and she loved it. She devoured it in a matter of days. I don't think she noticed that every male character had two older (and awful) brothers. I'll even suggest this to be a great introduction type book for any princess or fairy loving little girl.<br />
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So, 2 stars from me for the sake of the early pleasure, and 4 stars for the middle grade club.<br />
</span>Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-66812327801939200052010-09-01T21:48:00.000-06:002010-09-01T21:48:07.865-06:00Review: The God of Animals by Aryn Kyle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://fictionwritersreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/animals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://fictionwritersreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/animals.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>The God of Animals<br />
by Aryn Kyle<br />
Fiction<br />
320 pages<br />
published: 2007<br />
3 of 5 stars<br />
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<b>About</b><br />
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<i><span class="reviewText" id="freeText17083938429055491523">Twelve-year-old Alice Winston is growing up fast on her father's run-down horse ranch--coping with the death of a classmate and the absence of her older sister (who ran off with a rodeo cowboy), trying to understand her depressed and bedridden mother, and attempting to earn the love and admiration of her reticent, weary father. - </span></i><span class="reviewText" id="freeText17083938429055491523">from Goodreads</span><br />
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<b><span class="reviewText" id="freeText17083938429055491523">Reaction</span></b><br />
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<span class="reviewText" id="freeText17083938429055491523">Let me first say that this book is about many things that either I don't find all that interesting or would just not generally seek out. Like horses. Training, riding, breeding horses. </span><span class="reviewText" id="freeText17083938429055491523">(I missed that girly boat apparently.) </span><span class="reviewText" id="freeText17083938429055491523">Mean fathers. Teacher infatuation. Preoccupation with death. <b>Yet</b>, and it's an important yet, I kept reading. Kyle somehow rendered all this that I don't much care for <i>very </i>interesting. Especially the horses. </span><br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeText17083938429055491523"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeText17083938429055491523">That goodness in the book was the family dynamics. The sad, sick, oh-so-painfully-honest dysfunctional family dynamics. It was fascinating and heartbreaking to watch Alice try and survive the hand she was dealt. She pined for love. I ached for her. I cringed so many times at the characters decisions. I screamed what the characters should have said inside my head to no avail. </span><span class="reviewText" id="freeText17083938429055491523">This book had plenty of emotional pull. I'm still upset at one of my favorite characters for her ridiculousness at the end.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeText17083938429055491523">Another amazing thing was that I finished this book and realized there weren't any good guys. There were awful people who had bright (or bright - <i>er</i> moments) and okay people who turned out not so great. There were misunderstandings, forgiveness, and moments of dull beauty...but it was all sad and painful to me.</span><br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeText17083938429055491523"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeText17083938429055491523">Though it is about a teenager, and many of the issues would be familiar to teens, I wouldn't classify it as YA because it had the feel of an adult looking back on childhood. </span><br />
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<span class="reviewText" id="freeText17083938429055491523">If it was all so interesting and powerful, why didn't I rate it higher? Mostly because it left me feeling unhappy, and I doubt I'll ever read it again. (Though I don't regret reading it.) Will you feel this way? I have no idea. It is a moving, realistic, memorable, contemporary read, filled with flawed, oh-so-flawed, people and lots of horses. You could give it a try. Want my copy?</span>Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-73482277645025788342010-08-27T11:19:00.001-06:002010-08-27T11:25:39.987-06:00Review: Ondine: the Summer of Shambles by Ebony McKenna<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ebonymckenna.com/images/novels/ondine_the_summer_of_shambles/ondine_UK_cover_435x669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.ebonymckenna.com/images/novels/ondine_the_summer_of_shambles/ondine_UK_cover_435x669.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>Ondine: The Summer of Shambles<br />
by Ebony McKenna<br />
YA, Fantasy<br />
336 pages<br />
published: 2010<br />
4.5 of 5 stars<br />
<br />
<b>About</b><br />
<br />
A teenage girl, in a small eastern European country, runs away home from physic camp with her new pet ferret. She tries to go back to her life helping in her family's restaurant, but has trouble after trouble with the fact that her ferret isn't really a ferret at all.<br />
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<b>Reaction</b><br />
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I was so excited about this book I just went ahead and ordered it off amazon. But then there was had a bad moment. You see, I had some expectations. Expectations that weren't the fault of this book at all. I had my mind set that this was a high fantasy novel, taking place in another world, would not be a contemporary time period, and that it involved quests and journeys. And that there would be no footnotes. We got off on the wrong foot and I set this book aside with much disappointment. My bad. With a little time to adjust my arbitrary expectations, I picked Ondine up again and loved it.<br />
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So note: This takes place in our world and time, though this obscure country does remove it from daily experience. There are no real quests. The characters stay fairly close to home. And there are footnotes.<br />
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About those footnotes. When I wasn't ready for them, I was annoyed. When I came back, loosened up and in a good humor, I found them right funny. I grinned my way through much of this book. Through the footnotes, the author was my buddy. A facetious, flighty buddy. Very enjoyable. And the translations of Scottish brogue were helpful.<br />
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The characters and their bizarre situation drive this novel. Shambles the ferret is saucy and witty. I liked him equally as a ferret and a man. Ondine is sweet and hard working, and has a brilliant breakdown. Ondine's family is large and interesting and soaked into the pages, even proving to be the cause of her current troubles.<br />
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I read it one sitting and had a great time.<br />
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There was one not so favorite thing. Ondine seemed a little hot-blooded even for a teen. Raging hormones much? Because of that, this book isn't really for younger teens. It doesn't get descriptive, but the feelings and situations might not be understandable to youngsters. There are occasional racy comments (amusing ones) and lots of blushing. <br />
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A very fun read.<br />
<br />
<b>Other Reviews:</b><br />
<a href="http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/ondine-summer-of-shambles.html">In the Hammock</a> (I so should have been prepared for the footnotes! You mentioned them clearly. Bad memory of mine.)Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-59066274602603755092010-08-25T14:57:00.000-06:002010-08-25T14:57:00.832-06:00Reading Anniversary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaw22KSeW8uvJMUzbeprJZoZ7J1bH9-NWY5Mk1EQN2Exth2z9SLENkDCbszI1stitTmPiiP2apRVLjburhC9ZCJ8ofVYTwKCnYsUovWW655crp_MrB-HFAfWZ8f_I4NF252oqjDE4hMss/s1600/IMAG0059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaw22KSeW8uvJMUzbeprJZoZ7J1bH9-NWY5Mk1EQN2Exth2z9SLENkDCbszI1stitTmPiiP2apRVLjburhC9ZCJ8ofVYTwKCnYsUovWW655crp_MrB-HFAfWZ8f_I4NF252oqjDE4hMss/s400/IMAG0059.jpg" width="237" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sZtc-ITe1QWJWc5X7jUQgI7BCBquOIi7c6QDd7lw5OGnyRPJ8X0Bp6_7GN0a-BV4v_UJvste6XJ2Qkl6HwHe1tLMG_-d_q5PUlWmMpUfKHju24Llwgynk4sAZQoYMk_8GxyVSZKzWgE/s1600/IMAG0064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sZtc-ITe1QWJWc5X7jUQgI7BCBquOIi7c6QDd7lw5OGnyRPJ8X0Bp6_7GN0a-BV4v_UJvste6XJ2Qkl6HwHe1tLMG_-d_q5PUlWmMpUfKHju24Llwgynk4sAZQoYMk_8GxyVSZKzWgE/s320/IMAG0064.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I didn't know to be grateful for a husband who reads when I was first married. I was naive enough to think that everyone loved reading as much as I. I know better now and I am grateful. We celebrated 12 years on June 20th.<br />
<br />
When I asked Scott what was something he would like to do to celebrate, he said he wanted me to read to him. For our date I grabbed a simple and short romantic novel that I have enjoyed several times and we headed up into the mountains. We walked some lovely paths through the Sundance resort before finding the most <b><i>perfect</i></b> place to read. There was no one else around, there was a comfortable bench, there was a cool breeze coming off the water fall, and the scenery could not have been more beautiful. A perfect date. (Later we rode the moonlit chair lift ride. Highly recommend. Very romantic.)<br />
<br />
I'm going to tell you now that book moment about The Apprentice by Deborah Talmadge-Bickmore mentioned in <a href="http://smallaccomplishment.blogspot.com/2010/06/listful-mondays-book-moments-ill-never.html">Book Moments</a> and probably before. <b>Pointless Story Warning.</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://spire.ee/shop/images/deborah_talmadge_bickmore___the_apprentice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://spire.ee/shop/images/deborah_talmadge_bickmore___the_apprentice.jpg" width="190" /></a></div>I found The Apprentice at a used book store and it's cover struck my fancy. It is a short romance/fantasy that appealed to my teenage sense of isolation and drama. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I'll have to review it later. I really do love it. Though as an adult re-reader, I know some of my love is nostalgia. It is a bit of a self-indulgent book.)</span> <span style="font-size: small;">I loaned it to my friends and they loved it too.</span> Then I loaned it to a less responsible friend and I never saw it again. I dutifully searched all my used book store haunts and could not find another copy. I <b>even </b>went to <b>new</b> book stores. Nothing. This was before the internet, the wonderful amazon, or even before I was aware I could ask a book store to order it for me. Such naivety! Sigh. Regardless. To me, this favorite book was lost forever....<br />
<br />
Flash forward to my first semester at college. I had become friends with an apartment of guys and I hung there a lot. (I think I appreciated the quiet, stress-free environment over the girly craziness of my own. I tended to nap there.) One of the guy friends took me to visit a neighbor he had computer questions for. While I zoned out during the computer discussion, I noticed a book shelf and began scanning the titles. I recognized some and registered him as a fantasy reader. Then I saw <b>The Apprentice</b>. Cosmic Moment. So shocked was I that I burst out, interrupted their riveting conversation, "You Have The Apprentice!" I don't normally talk, let alone interrupt, strangers. In embarrassment I babbled about loving that book and losing it. This nice guy then <b>just up</b> and offered his copy to me. (I don't remember how, but he happened to know it was quite near my birthday.) I was stuck. I also don't just accept gifts. Especially from strange boys. <i>But it was <b>The Apprentice</b>.</i><br />
<br />
I took it. Oh the shame. What weakness! I clutched my ill-gotten book and retreated.<br />
<br />
I'm sure it comes as no surprise that later, when I encountered him again, I was more than willing to talk and play...till 3:00 in the morning. (I'm a sucker for rubber band wars, and this guy taught me how to flick pennies. The joy!) And then with <i>even less</i> surprise, that I married him.<br />
<br />
Happy Anniversary Scott! I love you and I love that you love books and I love that you just gave me that book I wanted so badly. I'll never forget.Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-41608831257512760482010-08-25T12:14:00.001-06:002010-08-25T18:44:49.634-06:00Review: Illusion by Paula Volsky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0553560220.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0553560220.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>Illusion<br />
by Paula Volsky<br />
Fantasy<br />
674 pages<br />
published: 1991<br />
6 of 5 stars<br />
<br />
<b>About</b><br />
<br />
<i><span class="reviewText" id="freeTextbook467457">For two hundred years the Exalted classes have used their dazzling magical abilities to rule Vonahr. Now, their powers grown slack from disuse and their attention turned to decadent pleasures, they ignore the misery of the lower classes until the red tide of revolution sweeps across the land. Thrust into the center of the conflict is the beautiful Eliste vo Derrivalle, spirited daughter of a provincial landowner, who must now scramble for bread in the teeming streets of the capital. With the key to her magical abilities an elusive secret, she must suddenly find a way to survive in a world gone mad ... with liberty. <br />
<br />
<i>Illusion</i> is a work of fantasy on the grandest scale - a seamless web of passion, danger, heroism, and romance that will hold you spellbound from the first page to the last. - </span></i><span class="reviewText" id="freeTextbook467457">from Goodreads</span><br />
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<b><span class="reviewText" id="freeTextbook467457">Reaction</span></b><br />
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<span class="reviewText" id="freeTextbook467457">I'm breaking back into the review groove with one of my all-time-favorite books. I read this one in High School after picking it out cold from a used book store. I just liked the cover. Thought is would involve hardship.</span><br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeTextbook467457"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeTextbook467457">This was one I mentioned in my <a href="http://smallaccomplishment.blogspot.com/2010/06/listful-mondays-book-moments-ill-never.html">Book Moments</a> post, about hiding in my room in the garage, on my little couch, next to my huge pile of clean clothes (because I never put them away), and hoping Mom didn't find me with some necessary housework. All day. I couldn't stop. I had never read anything like it.</span><br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeTextbook467457"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeTextbook467457">It wasn't high fantasy in the sense that there was a whole world to save from some powerful evil. It didn't have other races of creatures or a big world to traverse. In some ways it was even myopic, with Eliste trying to save her own life and preserve her world view that was being threatened on every side.</span><br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeTextbook467457"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeTextbook467457">Yet Eliste was not the only point of view written. You get to observe the "bad guys" and the "good guys" and wonder which exactly <i>are</i> the bad and the good. Or is everyone just misguided? Focused? Lost? Wrong?? Wrong in that way that everyone is a least a little wrong...too egocentric to see beyond our own noses.</span><br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeTextbook467457"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeTextbook467457">If I had to describe this book in 4 words it would be: French Revolution with Magic. But that makes it sound too simple. It sometimes read like a history book, sometimes like a romance, sometimes like a fantasy. It jerks your sympathies. It surprises you with hidden identities, stubborn determination, and just how low the characters sink. It is filled with lovable characters. Lovable because they are absolute stinkers - ignorant, immature, arrogant, impetuous, self-centered, proud, silly, vain - with flashes of brilliance and self-sacrifice and tenacity and forgiveness.</span><br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeTextbook467457"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeTextbook467457">It has been a while since I've read it last (though I've read it probably 3 times) and I keep remembering <i>another</i> part that I loved, and <i>another</i>. I can hardly pick. Ooh ooh I want you to read it!</span><br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeTextbook467457"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeTextbook467457">Back to salient points. Engulfing read. Haunting. Unforgettable. Amazing characters - the good and the not so good. Satisfying and plausible ending without too much "happily ever after." And in a small way, I feel like a have a better handle on the psychology of revolution, elitism, mob control, and survival.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeTextbook467457"> </span><br />
<span class="reviewText" id="freeTextbook467457">My only complaint? Those stinking French names that I can't pronounce. Grrr.</span><span class="reviewText" id="freeTextbook467457"> </span><br />
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<span class="reviewText" id="freeTextbook467457">Give it a try. I'll be shocked if you regret it.</span>Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-70262304711043941422010-08-25T11:31:00.000-06:002010-08-25T11:31:08.783-06:00A Letter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHZ6C8B5JXB8uEaSLZkLsrTbatYeQUdPk-16q4ppJhPRB32fvkNtA0lO78UAJJYjym66rsgtFbRlqEk-F2jshTntUi4LhyHlH4MGMkSX8ChuQje42elQ212-AbSAZFXwra9lHnf8KtsU/s1600/IMG_3958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHZ6C8B5JXB8uEaSLZkLsrTbatYeQUdPk-16q4ppJhPRB32fvkNtA0lO78UAJJYjym66rsgtFbRlqEk-F2jshTntUi4LhyHlH4MGMkSX8ChuQje42elQ212-AbSAZFXwra9lHnf8KtsU/s400/IMG_3958.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (Hiking in Logan Canyon)</span></i></div><br />
Dear Bloggies,<br />
<br />
As is obvious, Summer and blogging didn't mix for me. With all 5 critters home all day there were no peaceful nap times with the computer on my lap. At first, I was horrified and stressed. I begged and bribed and wheedled. I ranted and fussed and complained. I tried writing late at night. I tried writing midst the chaos. I threw a fit. I pouted and sulked and whined.<br />
<br />
And then I accepted it and gave up.<br />
<br />
Things were better after that. Though I much missed your blogs and comments.<br />
<br />
But I <i>was </i>able to read. Some I read out loud to everyone. Some I read in my swing while the critters played outside. Some I read with one hand while holding the baby so he would sleep with the house spinning around him. I have much to review and discuss.<br />
<br />
School started today, and while things aren't "back to normal" yet since my husband is upstairs nursing a back injury....at this moment Baby boy is asleep and the computer is unmolested on my lap. :) So much to do!<br />
<br />
And anyone attending the Utah Book Blogger's Social this Saturday, I hope to see you there. It will be my first social. I am excited and nervous. Big smiles!<br />
<br />
Bookingly Yours,<br />
<i><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">A Small Accomplishment </span></i>Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-22627259546799674952010-07-07T14:18:00.000-06:002010-07-07T14:18:30.307-06:00Review: A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Dunce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://violetcrush.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/curseasdarkasgold2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://violetcrush.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/curseasdarkasgold2.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>A Curse Dark as Gold<br />
by Elizabeth C. Dunce<br />
YA, Fairy Tale<br />
396 pages<br />
published: 2009<br />
3 of 5 stars<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>About</b><br />
<br />
<i>Upon the death of her father, seventeen-year-old Charlotte struggles to keep the family's woolen mill running in the face of an overwhelming mortgage and what the local villagers believe is a curse, but when a man capable of spinning straw into gold appears on the scene she must decide if his help is worth the price. </i>- from Goodreads<br />
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<b>Reaction</b><br />
<br />
I liked this book. It was a creative retelling of Rumpelstiltskin with a curse and a mystery, a history and the additional characters of the mill and the village. I enjoyed the perspective of the "Miller's Daughter" rather than Rumpelstiltskin. I believed in the characters. I reveled in hating one of them and loving others. I loved learning about the technical aspects of making and selling cloth. The writing was good, with emotional situations making me feel all the appropriate emotions.<br />
<br />
Yet overall, this was no love affair for me for two main reasons - both of which are matters of personal taste/preference and do not prevent me from recommending this or understanding why others love it. First, I must be used to characters starting off at rock bottom, or quickly hitting rock bottom, and spending the rest of the time climbing out. It was difficult to read about a character whose situation got better, than worse, than really great, than worse-<i>er</i>... At one point when things were happy, I put the book down and didn't read for a while. I didn't want to ride the roller coaster down again! I am glad that I did finish. The ride was rough but the ending rewarding.<br />
<br />
The second reason this wasn't my favorite story had to do with Charlotte. I admired her tenacity and hard work and independence and practicality. But she eventually carried it to the ridiculous and I stopped admiring her. She began doing things and making decisions that I hated. I have been thinking about this. More often than not characters do things I wouldn't do, think things I wouldn't think, and make decisions I wouldn't make, but that doesn't stop me from liking them or their story. My problem with Charlotte must have to do with the <i>area</i> of her disagreeable decisions. She poked a nerve of mine. At one point she was faced with a decision and she hesitated - honestly hesitated - and from that point on she lost me. My interest in finishing the story became more about solving the mystery than out of concern for her, and the loss of that personal dimension in a story is detrimental to me.<br />
<br />
Overall? It is a worthwhile book that I would recommend to fairy tale lovers. It is not a personal favorite of mine.Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-63478399501952040642010-07-06T12:28:00.000-06:002010-07-06T12:28:27.750-06:00BBAW Registration<a href="http://www.bookbloggerappreciationweek.com/" target="new"><img src="http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg290/thefriendlybooknook/bbaw-button2010_med.jpg" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
I am trying to carefully follow all the directions to participate in <a href="http://www.bookbloggerappreciationweek.com/">BBAW</a> which is coming up <i>after</i> school starts, which I think is a good thing. I don't really know what it is all about, but it sounds exciting and fun. So I'm declaring my blog as an <b>eclectic</b> blog after much hemming and hawing. Here is the snippet of description: <i>this blog doesn’t specialize in any one book genre. It is known for consistently excellent reviews, recommendations, analysis, and other content in a variety of genres. </i><br />
<br />
I tried hard to fit somewhere else, but I review everything from picture books to classics. (Is this a problem for anyone??)<br />
<br />
I've pulled out my 5 posts and now I'm jumping into the water!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Reviews</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://smallaccomplishment.blogspot.com/2010/02/review-north-and-south.html">Review: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell</a><br />
<a href="http://smallaccomplishment.blogspot.com/2010/05/ppb-bear-snores-on-by-karma-wilson.html">PPB: Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson - Illus. by Jane Chapman</a><br />
<a href="http://smallaccomplishment.blogspot.com/2010/05/review-keturah-and-lord-death-by.html">Review: Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt</a><br />
<a href="http://smallaccomplishment.blogspot.com/2010/03/review-book-thief-by-markus-zusak.html">Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak</a><br />
<br />
<b>Other</b><br />
<a href="http://smallaccomplishment.blogspot.com/2010/05/listful-mondays-reading-hazards.html">Listful Mondays: Reading Hazards</a><br />
<br />
If you'd like to look into registering, check it out <a href="http://bookbloggerappreciationweek.com/index.php/awards">HERE</a>.Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-51906013140518525762010-07-06T12:12:00.000-06:002010-07-06T12:12:15.546-06:00PPB: Saving Sweetness by Diane Stanley - Illus. G. Brain Garas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qmR8trduNZbXbL9X-W2kTCDWv1skcg7SmgtfNM_nxId08VvPPl5i-6XXOyq27_U_EuH7mn_IjbJU1bgiVm8l-D-Lc_CFRRMHiZYDyhiTtpCexquSQ00bF0l_0Ld_FQAnslLOPsCqS1c/s1600/Perfect_PBs_Vintage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qmR8trduNZbXbL9X-W2kTCDWv1skcg7SmgtfNM_nxId08VvPPl5i-6XXOyq27_U_EuH7mn_IjbJU1bgiVm8l-D-Lc_CFRRMHiZYDyhiTtpCexquSQ00bF0l_0Ld_FQAnslLOPsCqS1c/s200/Perfect_PBs_Vintage.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
I don't want people to think that, in my opinion, only rhyming picture books can be perfect, so I'm throwing in some southern prose.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.infibeam.com/img/8aac6e50/458/6/9780399226458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://img.infibeam.com/img/8aac6e50/458/6/9780399226458.jpg" width="316" /></a></div>Saving Sweetness<br />
by Diane Stanley<br />
Illus. by G Brain Karas<br />
Picture Book<br />
published: 1996<br />
<br />
<b>About</b><br />
<br />
Mrs. Sump is so mean to the ophans that little Sweetness runs away. The sheriff is duty-bound to find that little 'thang' and save her from the hot hot desert and that nasty outlaw Coyote Pete. But who really saves whom?<br />
<br />
<b>Reaction</b><br />
<br />
I was first introduced to this book at a writing conference where I was privileged to hear Diane read it out loud to us. We were in stitches. It was glorious. I had to immediately acquire my own copy and have loved reading it to my kids since. It is a tad longer than your average picture book, but you won't even notice. You'll love the resourceful, polite, clever Little Sweetness and that good-intentioned but hapless Sheriff. And the book is a wallow of fanciful and funny southern sayings. I challenge anyone to read it out loud and <i>not</i> fall into a southern accent, fake or otherwise. And the ending is funny, sweet, and laced with my all-time-favorite, poetic irony.<br />
<br />
Please check it out! You won't regret it.Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-84951054427581246062010-07-02T15:52:00.002-06:002010-07-02T15:53:29.346-06:00Black Hole Reviews<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-Lc4jHijIMzz573uUrlPorI4dOabHdLkqFjMHWp7uE_dtqeJ0_jPBW_O2pTjxSXGoTYSOFTpyd0hyBfi3YNeXbxv9SoPJSdQ295BZ07Tl8dZfFfljC6zvc08XQgehyexXFJDybPYuvQ/s1600/BlackHoleReviews.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-Lc4jHijIMzz573uUrlPorI4dOabHdLkqFjMHWp7uE_dtqeJ0_jPBW_O2pTjxSXGoTYSOFTpyd0hyBfi3YNeXbxv9SoPJSdQ295BZ07Tl8dZfFfljC6zvc08XQgehyexXFJDybPYuvQ/s200/BlackHoleReviews.jpg" width="200" /></a>Welcome to another edition of Black Hole Reviews! As I slog through my backed up reader, I am finding so much I want to read. I am noticing that I'm drawn to this Eva Ibbotson's books, even though I haven't read a single one yet. Perhaps I'm just in a romantical mood? Anyway, check out these appealing book and these awesome/sucky reviews.<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/963274.A_Company_of_Swans">A Company of Swans</a> by Eva Ibbotson reviewed by <a href="http://bookishinabox.blogspot.com/2010/06/review-of-company-of-swans.html">Bookish in a Box</a> (historical fiction/romance)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/544424.Leaving_Paradise">Leaving Paradise</a> by Simone Elkeles reviewed by <a href="http://angieville.blogspot.com/2010/06/leaving-paradise-by-simone-elkeles.html">Angieville</a> (contemporary YA)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8493795-everlasting">Everlasting</a> by Angie Frazier reviewed by <a href="http://brendalovesbooks.blogspot.com/2010/06/everlasting.html">Brenda Loves Boos </a> (historical fiction/romance plus adventure)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/714569.A_Countess_Below_Stairs">A Countess Below Stairs</a> by Eva Ibbotson reviewed by <a href="http://bookishinabox.blogspot.com/2010/06/review-of-countess-below-stairs.html">Bookish in a Box </a> (historical fiction/romance with a ex-aristocrat in hiding)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/876013.Daughter_of_the_Forest">Daughter of the Fores</a>t by Juliet Marillier reviewed by <a href="http://sueysbooks.blogspot.com/2010/06/review-daughter-of-forest-by-juliet.html">It's All About Books</a> (fantasy) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6482981-sea">Sea</a> by Heidi R. Kling reviewed by <a href="http://www.goodbooksandgoodwine.com/2010/05/review-of-sea-by-heidi-r-kling.html">Good Book & Wine</a> (contemporary YA) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7059135-inside-out">Inside Out</a> by Maria V. Snyder reviewed by <a href="http://www.layersofthought.net/2010/04/review-by-shellie-inside-out-by-maria.html">Layers of Thought</a> (dystopian novel for middle graders with a strong female character. A possible introduction to sci-fi.)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7740225-tyger-tyger">Tyger Tyger</a> by Kersten Hamilton reviewed by <a href="http://brendalovesbooks.blogspot.com/2010/05/tyger-tyger.html">Brenda Loves Books</a> (YA fantasy whose synopsis sounds interesting, but the positive review is what made this one more appealing.)</li>
</ul><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://hottopop.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/6a00d8345169e469e200e54f3a7d618834-800wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://hottopop.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/6a00d8345169e469e200e54f3a7d618834-800wi.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JoGBXlp0nwYIhirLY_MjbVHxwMqkN28uoV44VOb_T6fwL19_PpScRD72JmEdd0MTT8Xr2vzbL-OTVkE8gzCYyPYKDRfLui4Qe9ZppeSyHaMfM9bvjv4Va64py_N1nwzKGa1zJIRKkh8/s1600/41QSnM8n0QL._SL500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_JoGBXlp0nwYIhirLY_MjbVHxwMqkN28uoV44VOb_T6fwL19_PpScRD72JmEdd0MTT8Xr2vzbL-OTVkE8gzCYyPYKDRfLui4Qe9ZppeSyHaMfM9bvjv4Va64py_N1nwzKGa1zJIRKkh8/s200/41QSnM8n0QL._SL500_.jpg" width="129" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY48ADg1VUNIiGf6tVl0z_tZaTkHsNCqTzbs_wdsH2gUYkswsnSAdA3DTEt9Ie0wW0BHGqpa8kjr9jVgKuNUKv-4UdTj_vpLamcF-EFfsFnaDCk31am1dMkuO1rMK6_IHybT2rvMxUUssO/s1600/Everlasting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY48ADg1VUNIiGf6tVl0z_tZaTkHsNCqTzbs_wdsH2gUYkswsnSAdA3DTEt9Ie0wW0BHGqpa8kjr9jVgKuNUKv-4UdTj_vpLamcF-EFfsFnaDCk31am1dMkuO1rMK6_IHybT2rvMxUUssO/s200/Everlasting.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="http://www.paraklesis.com/reviews/countess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.paraklesis.com/reviews/countess.jpg" width="129" /></a><a href="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0006483984.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0006483984.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" width="123" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5u5kKycpPtQZoQJh02LQ8ALi1E41NgKO3ycaphQ3qJAhyphenhyphenAYVoq9jvO1u3w4r4kzYpdnBVVX7XmRB_MtVQRiLUDzP5HIvlVorHhpbjuwf0DAzMI-q8cAXx1LHpgXrxaytrBefS0P4mIaE/s1600/Sea+Heidi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5u5kKycpPtQZoQJh02LQ8ALi1E41NgKO3ycaphQ3qJAhyphenhyphenAYVoq9jvO1u3w4r4kzYpdnBVVX7XmRB_MtVQRiLUDzP5HIvlVorHhpbjuwf0DAzMI-q8cAXx1LHpgXrxaytrBefS0P4mIaE/s200/Sea+Heidi.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="http://karinlibrarian.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/inside-out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://karinlibrarian.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/inside-out.jpg" width="136" /></a><a href="http://home.comcast.net/%7Ekerstenhamilton/images/TygerTyger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://home.comcast.net/%7Ekerstenhamilton/images/TygerTyger.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-31549577263721251582010-06-30T11:23:00.000-06:002010-06-30T11:23:01.868-06:00Review: Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.contentreserve.com/ImageType-100/1071-1/%7B99DAC1C7-4E96-425C-9B18-42D0E21CAFCF%7DImg100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.contentreserve.com/ImageType-100/1071-1/%7B99DAC1C7-4E96-425C-9B18-42D0E21CAFCF%7DImg100.jpg" width="126" /></a></div>Poison Study<br />
by Maria V. Snyder<br />
Fantasy, YA<br />
416 pages<br />
published: 2004<br />
5 of 5 stars<br />
<br />
<b>About</b><br />
<br />
<i>About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace-- and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.</i><br />
<i>And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison. As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear.... - </i>from Goodreads<br />
<br />
<b>Reaction</b><br />
<br />
I was longing for a book I could sink into and love, and I was fortunate to read this one. I was persuaded by several bloggers to put this on hold at the library and it came up just when I needed it. I quickly devoured this never-boring fantasy.<br />
<br />
The Good Stuff:<br />
<ul><li>Intriguing. I was fascinated by mystery, the horrible past, and the simple fact that this seemingly good character was perfectly fine with the murder she committed. I <i>had</i> to know the back story.</li>
<li>Different. I have never encountered the premise of being a compelled food taster before and enjoyed it. The post-rebellion world was also cool to explore. For all the problems with it, and all the reasons to dislike the government, it became apparent that it was a great improvement over before.</li>
<li>Pacing/Plotting. It was never dull. It felt like as soon as I got a handle on what was going on and started predicting where things would go next, new layers of plot were spread on top. </li>
<li>Characters. I loved that the characters where all (or nearly all) multi-faceted. The good guys did some questionable things, the bad guys had their reasons. Enemy and Friend where titles that were constantly changing. And yet the characters were consistent within themselves, you just couldn't always see the big picture at first.</li>
<li>World Building. I mentioned the post-rebellion government, but there was more to the world, including other countries and a magic system. This wasn't a hugely detailed or political book, but there was enough to completely immerse you in otherness.</li>
<li>The ending. There was a fully satisfying ending that wasn't perfect. Not a stressful cliffhanger. Not a pretty bow. Just goodness.</li>
</ul>I highly recommend this to older teens and fantasy lovers.<br />
<br />
Cautions: Some sex, fair amount of violence, and mature themes including torture and murder.Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-56785467780156561642010-06-28T08:00:00.001-06:002010-06-28T08:00:06.295-06:00Listful Mondays: Book Moments I'll Never Forget<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinzbx8thDZq1XZhZ_24K-tixC6jeWsvrDB63hgw9o3lobjPtoi5RgIr0QuCvW6BFFfOAXHju4gLhXgWKPiLX16row8Ny1ETmfLB2vmhfEaeeU6HuXQlCqfpRVCgtdGp61pNnM1IC7C04/s1600/ListFulMondaysTilt.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiinzbx8thDZq1XZhZ_24K-tixC6jeWsvrDB63hgw9o3lobjPtoi5RgIr0QuCvW6BFFfOAXHju4gLhXgWKPiLX16row8Ny1ETmfLB2vmhfEaeeU6HuXQlCqfpRVCgtdGp61pNnM1IC7C04/s200/ListFulMondaysTilt.png" width="173" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">So it ended up being a three week break instead of one. My apologies. I had two rounds of family visitors, one right after the other, and then apparently a week to recover. It was all wonderful and busy and now summer will <i>really </i>start for my family. I'm excited to be blogging again, though I feel like it's has been years instead of three weeks, and my google reader agrees. Now we shall just have to see <b>how </b>(let's hope it is a 'how' and not a 'if') blogging will fit into this whole no school thing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">I am trying to list memories of books that are associated with specific times or moments in my life, not just awesome things I remember <i>out</i> of books. No attempt to write them in chronological order will be made - that would be entirely too much work.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Book Moments I Will Never Forget:</span><br />
<ol><li><span style="font-size: small;">Finishing the <i>Anne of Green Gables</i> series (with that glorious "yeth") and experiencing my first full blown case of P.A.B.D. (Post Amazing Book Depression). I just didn't know how to go on with my boring boring life.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Going book shopping with my aunt, who doesn't like small children and who had only recently graduated me to the realm of worthwhile humans due to my double digit age and the fact that we both liked fantasy books. I confessed to liking Anne McCaffrey but that I hadn't read too many because of the lacking local and school libraries. She shocked me by buying <i>Dragonsinger</i>, the next book in the series, </span><span style="font-size: small;">for <i>me</i></span><span style="font-size: small;">. At home I immediately curled up in the armchair and read the whole thing.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Finishing <i>Return of the King </i>while nursing my second child. It was so heavy and dark that I had to repeatedly put it down for breathers, but since I had nowhere to go...I'd pick it back up.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">My senior English class when my teacher suggested I might like <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>. I held the plain little book I knew nothing about, shrugged, and opened to that famous line. Thank you Mrs. Cornelius.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Attending the release party at Borders for the third <i>Harry Potter</i> with my baby girl (number one) dressed like Crookshanks. Then ever after having to buy the book on CD because neither my husband or I would relent and let the other read the new book first. We would drive aimlessly around town so we could listen to the book and the children would sleep.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Whilst trapped at my grandma's house with nothing but reruns on cable, I scoured her meager bookshelf for something to pass the time. All her books were pastel and vapidly titled. No fantasy. I finally settled on a pink monstrosity mostly because it mentioned the ocean, and I embarked on my first romance novel. I was shocked by the amount sex (or near sex, frankly) and was deliciously scandalized by what my <i>grandmother</i> read.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">After trying unsuccessfully to read <i>The Two Towers</i> for what felt like months (and I suppose it could have been since I was probably 11ish) I gave up. How strange it felt. How like a failure. But at that moment I was honest and admitted it just wasn't making sense.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Meeting Tasslehoff Burrfoot and the gang in <i>Dragons of Autumn Twilight</i>. I remember the scene so clearly I could have read it yesterday instead of in grade school. I was euphoric because it was adult fantasy and I could read it. It meant no more boring kid books.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Trying to read <i>The Book of Three</i> on my brother's bed. (I've mentioned this one countless times.) I just wasn't ready for that one. I needed one more year.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Stuck in a KOA while my parents did laundry, I grabbed a sci-fi book off the "here you can read this" shelf because it was by Anne McCaffrey and I was <i>desperate. </i>Enter <i>The Rowan</i>. I took that copy home with me. It became one of my friends.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">That moment in <i>The Secret Garden</i> when Collin walked and I knew I loved this book. It was also the moment when I acknowledged that my mother could pick out good books for me even though they weren't fantasy. I stopped fighting her suggestions. Mostly.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The day, the whole entire day, I spent curled on the couch in my garage bedroom reading <i>Illusion </i>by Paula Volsky. I was so drawn in and desperate to finish it that I never strayed from my room for fear of being "assigned" something to do.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Several things involving <i>The Clan of the Cave Bear</i> - remembering the title from what my 4th grade teacher was reading during our read-a-thon; being furious with my father for telling me I couldn't read it until I was 18, but telling my brother he could read it at 16, double standards suck; a friend in grade school scanning through the pages in the library because she hear there was "bad stuff" in it, and finally reading it, and loving it, on my own as an adult.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Loving <i>The Westing Game</i> because the girl was named Turtle.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Reading <i>Out of the Dust</i> by Karren Hesse is one breathless sitting, then reading it all over again out loud to my husband when he got home. Haunting. Glorious.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Holes</i> inspired a twice-read-in-a-day episode too. Amazing plotting and pacing. I had to share it immediately.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Trying to read <i>These is My Words</i> on the treadmill and failing. I sat down, sweaty and exhausted, on the floor next to the treadmill and continued reading it...hoping to forget that breakfast and school and work would find me there.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Needing a "break from it all" and hiding in my library with no idea what to read. I grabbed <i>My Fair Godmother</i> by Janette Rallison for a re-read because I knew it would deliver what I wanted at that moment. And it did.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Picking up my older sister's abandoned, water damaged copy of <i>Dragonsong </i>by Anne McCaffrey and daring to open it. You see, my older brother had said her books weren't good, so I was rebelling. Within a few chapters I had decided to *gasp* <b>disagree</b>. A defining moment of independent decision making.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Apprentice</i> by Deborah Talmadge-Bickmore. This will be discussed in another post soon to come.</span></li>
</ol><span style="font-size: small;"></span>This has been much fun. I'm sure that I am forgetting many, but I have to let go at some point... I would be in raptures to read about any of <i>your</i> unforgettable moments!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>{Next week: Books I ReRead}</i></span>Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-24757352339113702412010-06-03T21:37:00.000-06:002010-06-03T21:37:10.659-06:00Hiatus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIg09BbeYe-wmZSw6pH4RXinzBWQCiWjNTSlQGAPxmGT9GkGL35ikeBJw6RjlyYWBMS2t983GEV_EVaYhT_nHu06IzgTJ4e884XA1ApjE-C2wGkaHzrQMdr2Pl1r1lvsUWjAGFDRh9ik/s1600/IMG_2595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIg09BbeYe-wmZSw6pH4RXinzBWQCiWjNTSlQGAPxmGT9GkGL35ikeBJw6RjlyYWBMS2t983GEV_EVaYhT_nHu06IzgTJ4e884XA1ApjE-C2wGkaHzrQMdr2Pl1r1lvsUWjAGFDRh9ik/s400/IMG_2595.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>As you have probably noticed, I haven't been posting. The situation has been so bad that I haven't even posted about not posting! Crisis.<br />
<br />
You see, my house will very soon be the site of a family get together. I have a big family. While not everyone is coming, enough are for me to stress. We have had to recover the pool from a bad winter, fix broken pipes <i>inside</i> the outdoor drinking fountain, fix the the air conditioner, assemble the playset and the trampoline net, and clean <i>clean <b>clean</b></i>. And run errands and shopping and getting vehicles registered and...and...and....there was school ending and graduations and outgrown shoes and reservations and a recital.<br />
<br />
Well. They are all arriving Saturday and leaving approximately one week later. At that point I will have much blogging to do. I have a list. Literally. It's in my green notebook - reviews, lists, thoughts, ramblings, ideas, opinions. I'm dying not able to write anything. I am exhausted. I haven't even been reading. I haven't been sitting down. :(<br />
<br />
But I shall be back as soon as I can be. I miss you Bloggies, and I miss reading reviews. I miss my books. Tomorrow I continue to scale Mt. Washmore.<br />
<br />
See you on the other side!Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7273644252058508882.post-26699226958566190562010-06-01T09:22:00.000-06:002010-06-01T09:22:38.818-06:00Listful Mondays: Pumpkin Books<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIe5LbmfWbF2ripo3ljtvV-kBHok1ik9xJjwSrv9r8GCbWtWSlMF5XVcUI1T1f71EV1ee3W8RIHWJm8-vd3-AJxlgocC7asLYm-lFzQATvygtkSMlbWJj5qaLr90RwG1bhWAdx_7uunVU/s1600/ListFulMondaysTilt.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIe5LbmfWbF2ripo3ljtvV-kBHok1ik9xJjwSrv9r8GCbWtWSlMF5XVcUI1T1f71EV1ee3W8RIHWJm8-vd3-AJxlgocC7asLYm-lFzQATvygtkSMlbWJj5qaLr90RwG1bhWAdx_7uunVU/s200/ListFulMondaysTilt.png" width="173" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>A Collection.</b> Perhaps the titles in your crockpot cooking corner, or all the Newberry's you own, or the rhyming picture books. I'll be going with my pride and joy - my Pumpkin Book Collection. Especially since you all have heard enough about my fairy tales.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Alright Bloggies. A weekend has finally come when I was not on the computer at all. Not even to do my List. I'm embarrassed. But it was a holiday weekend, and though my husband wasn't off work, I had helpers willing to work with me on cleaning the house, putting together the new swing set and the trampoline surround net, cleaning the pool, doing the dishes, and even painting. I'm afraid I'll take some embarrassment for that. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">So though it's Tuesday, I'm going to pretend for a minute that it is still Monday and put up my list. My Pumpkin Book List. I've mentioned that I decorated my family room in pumpkins year round...well this collection sits on one of the shelves in that room. Many our taken out for Pumpkin Day in the Fall. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.neatsolutions.com/Images/Products/TU/too_many_pumpkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="http://www.neatsolutions.com/Images/Products/TU/too_many_pumpkins.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.doba.com/products/474/9781883672591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images.doba.com/products/474/9781883672591.jpg" width="154" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.neatsolutions.com/Images/Products/PQR/pumpkin_town.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://www.neatsolutions.com/Images/Products/PQR/pumpkin_town.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXt2aEl4y0KrrihtFlw2G6sfDFNst8zmIIJhn1e0xWz-UA0XbAzSaY_ZUBH-VsN_6ZpZfp1QeEK56dwhWVLR7DtOkJxKC0JNPxe-He1gnarHMG1IdGOdOsXFv05_52x2P71c24zZyzm48d/s1600/pumpkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXt2aEl4y0KrrihtFlw2G6sfDFNst8zmIIJhn1e0xWz-UA0XbAzSaY_ZUBH-VsN_6ZpZfp1QeEK56dwhWVLR7DtOkJxKC0JNPxe-He1gnarHMG1IdGOdOsXFv05_52x2P71c24zZyzm48d/s200/pumpkins.jpg" width="158" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/4a/b/AAAAAt9iYh4AAAAAAEq-Vw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/4a/b/AAAAAt9iYh4AAAAAAEq-Vw.jpg" /></a></div><ol><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1133446.Too_Many_Pumpkins">Too Many Pumpkins</a> by Linda White, Illustrated by Megan Lloyd. (Picture Book. A old woman who can't stand pumpkins because she had to eat too many as a kid finds herself with a whole crop of pumpkins in her yard. What will she do?)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1942313.Pumpkins">Pumpkins</a> by Ken Robbins. (Picture Book. A journey with photographs through the life cycle of the pumpkin.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/886095.Pumpkin_Town_Or_Nothing_Is_Better_and_Worse_Than_Pumpkins">Pumpkin Town</a> by Katie McKy, Illustrated by Pablo Bernasconi. (Picture Book. When the wind grabbed the unneeded pumpkin seeds and rained them down on the nearby village, that seemed to be the end of it...)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/904892.Pumpkin_Soup">Pumpkin Soup</a> by Helen Cooper. (Picture Book. Three friends knew just how to do their own job and make the perfect pumpkin soup...until one of them decided they wanted someone else's job.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/278773.The_Pumpkin_Blanket">The Pumpkin Blanket</a> by Deborah Turney Zagwyn. (Picture Book. A little girl learns to give up her favorite blanket for something else she loves.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6115433-seed-sprout-pumpkin-pie">Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin Pie</a> by Jill Esbaum. (Picture Book. Another life cycle story told in photographs.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/913975.Halloween_Pie">Halloween Pie</a> by Michael O. Tunnell, Illustrated by Kevin O'Malley. (Picture Book. Witch makes a delicious pumpkin pie and curses it in case someone else tries to eat it.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2108980.Mrs_McMurphy_s_Pumpkin">Mrs. McMurphy's Pumpkin</a> by Rick Walton, Illustrated by Delana Bettoli. (Picture Book. What if what of the pumpkins was...evil?)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2068388.Pumpkin_Time">Pumpkin Time</a> by Kathleen Wiedner Zoehfeld, Illustrated by Christopher Santoro. (Board Book. A Little's trip to the pumpkin patch.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1787031.Plumply_Dumply_Pumpkin">Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin</a> by Marcy Serfozo, Illustrated by Valeria Petrone. (Board Book. Another Little picks the perfect pumpkin. What for?)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/385838.Pumpkin_a_Super_Food_for_All_12_Months_of_the_Year">Pumpkin: A Super Food for All 12 Months of the Year</a> by DeeDee Stovel. (Cookbook.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7028385-pumpkins-and-squashes">Pumpkins & Squashes</a>. (Cookbook. With pretty pictures.)</span></li>
</ol><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
You might think this overkill, but as with many addictions, this is NOT enough. I have my eye on several more pumpkin books and will probably grab another handful just before Pumpkin Day this year. Crazy? Perhaps. Awesome? Totally.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Do you have any collections??</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>{Next week - which will be the week after next week - explanation soon: Book Moments I'll Never Forget. (I'm real excited about this one.}</i></span></span>Julie (ASmAcc)http://www.blogger.com/profile/13486383200911669826noreply@blogger.com1