Showing posts with label history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label history. Show all posts
Monday, July 18, 2022
Review of A Sporting Chance: How Paralympics Founder Ludwig Guttman Saved Lives With Sports by Lori Alexander
Thursday, July 1, 2021
Review of Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: The Remix by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
A remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning for ages 12 and up.
A timely, crucial, and empowering exploration of racism--and antiracism--in America.
This is NOT a history book.
This is a book about the here and now.
A book to help us better understand why we are where we are.
A book about race.
The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. This is a remarkable reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's Stamped from the Beginning, winner of a National Book Award. It reveals the history of racist ideas in America and inspires hope for an antiracist future.
Stamped takes you on a race journey from then to now, shows you why we feel how we feel, and why the poison of racism lingers. It also proves that while racist ideas have always been easy to fabricate and distribute, they can also be discredited.
Through a gripping, fast-paced, and energizing narrative, Jason Reynolds shines a light on the many insidious forms of racist ideas--and on ways readers can identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their daily lives.
Book Links
(affiliate link included)
**My thoughts**
As I have embarked on my own ABAR studies and work, I have cultivated a lengthy list of recommended books. Certain books appear time and again on numerous list recommendations. Of course, Ibram X. Kendi is one of the top authors. I fully admit that when I was ready to start my next read, I glanced at my curated wishlist on Amazon and grabbed this one because it was one of the least expensive. And I am glad I was led to that decision. This is a book that I think everyone should read.
Author Jason Reynolds is known for writing books more geared toward the younger generation. I think it was brilliant for him to take Ibram X. Kendi’s Stamped from the Beginning and break it down. After all, the original is about 500 pages long. Readers are more likely to want to read a more abbreviated version. This book hits on all of the high points of the full text and delivers it in a very conversational format.
I think that aspect is key. We are talking about the need to have conversations. And reading this made me feel like I was sitting drinking a coffee or a beer with Jason while he imparted some serious knowledge on me.
Many of these names were familiar to me. But I never before realized how much I didn’t know about their full stories. I’ve been learning some, thanks to some excellent Great Courses lectures. But this really opened my eyes to even more
And while this book is written with the slightly younger set in mind, I think it is an important one for adults to read as well. It lays the foundation for learning more history than we got at school. Ideally, you will want to then move on to the full text, which I already had on order before I was finished with this one.
I also hope it will inspire some inner reflection in readers. Will you challenge what you have learned and seek out more of the story? Will you better understand the current racial climate and the experiences that your Black friends and acquaintances have had in their past and continue to face? And will you finally recognize yourself as being in one of the three groups – segregationist, assimilationist, or antiracist?
Will you have better conversations?
I know there will be some who have a problem with this book. They are the ones who have the most work to do and would benefit greatly from the education inside it. I hope more people are willing to open their minds to this conversation and are willing to use this book to help them join in. I think this is belongs on required reading lists. I am glad I included it in my reading and will definitely read it again.
Further Thoughts:
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Review of Apollo 13: A Successful Failure by Laura B. Edge
"Houston, we've had a problem."
On April 13, 1970, the three astronauts aboard the Apollo 13 spacecraft were headed to the moon when a sudden explosion rocked the ship. Oxygen levels began depleting rapidly. Electrical power began to fail. Astronauts James Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise were about to be stranded in the inky void of outer space.
The mission to the moon was scrapped. Now, Apollo 13's only goal was to bring the crew home. With the damaged spacecraft hurtling towards the moon at roughly six thousand miles per hour, there was little hope of success. But the astronauts and mission control were fully prepared to do whatever it took to return the crew to Earth.
This space disaster occurred at the peak of the United States' Space Race against the Soviet Union. But for four days in 1970, the two nations put aside their differences, and the entire world watched the skies, hoping and praying the astronauts would return safely. As missions to Mars and commercial space flight become a reality, the time is now to be reminded of our common humanity, of how rivals can work together and support each other towards a shared goal. Because no matter what happens or where we travel, we all call Earth home.
Book Links
Goodreads * Amazon * B&N * IndieBound
**My thoughts**
My formative years were in the 1980s, so the space shuttles were a big deal. It was a like a party every time one took off, up until that fateful Challenger explosion that marred our childhood memories. But even then, we ate up all of the information we could about the history of the space program. And then in the 1990s, the movie Apollo 13 came out, once again lighting a desire to know more.
This book is great. It opens with that fateful moment leading to the famous words, "Houston, we have a problem." And then it goes into the history and the importance of the space program leading up to this mission. Following that is an account of the rest of the Apollo 13 ordeal, reading almost like a novel. You can almost feel the action and are glued to the pages to find out what is going to happen next. I love that in a nonfiction book.
And then it gets into the aftermath of the trip, including the investigation into what had happened and the last missions to the moon. It's hard to believe it has been almost 50 years since we last touched down there.
So many photographs illustrate the stories, which are one of my favorite things to see. Give me the real photos and not just illustrations. They really make the history come alive.
And then for those who want more, you can refer to the resources, bibliography, and suggested further reading sections with both books and websites.
I loved reading more about this famous story and learning more than I had known before. I think space afficionados from upper elementary and older will also enjoy it.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
The Raid on Troy (The Orfeo Saga Book 7) by Murray Lee Eiland Jr.
I was compensated for sharing this post. I only share those books that I feel readers will enjoy. Affiliate links are included, which when clicked through may help me earn a small commission to support my websites.
The Raid on Troy
The Greek raid on Troy is chronicled in the Iliad and the Odyssey. These poems are pillars of ancient literature and continue to be carefully studied. Homer, who lived in the 8th or 7th century BC, is credited as the author. The actual conflict has been dated from 1260-1180 BC or even earlier. The question is, how close is Homer’s account to real history?
In the Orfeo Saga volume seven there are some familiar characters from Homer. Their motivations, as well as their history, can be radically different. Memnon is a self-made man and a petty king who craves the fabled gold of Troy. His brother Menas is king of Sparta. They assemble a coalition to sack the city. Telemon, not eager to join the expedition, is moved to act after his daughter Elena is taken. He seizes the city of Mycenae and goes to Troy. Odysees might not be as clever or brave as the man described in Homer, but he joins the expedition out of greed. He soon meets Orfeo’s son, who is in search of his first real adventure. Orfeo is on the Trojan side, and has to face the assembled military might of Greece as well as Odysees cunning plans. The Greeks have Ajax, who they count on to defeat any foe in single combat. Can Telemon - now an old man - defeat the greatest Greek warrior and recover his daughter?
The Raid on Troy might not be any closer to real history than the ancient poems, but it does offer insights into what might form the basis of the stories.
About Murray Lee Eiland, Jr.
When I was younger I was a psychiatrist as well as a rug collector and dealer. I traveled to the East to learn more about carpets and the people who made them. I was exposed to cultures that preserved much from their past.I developed an interest in how and why states form. I wanted to write books that explored the characters of people who created civilizations. I wanted to come to grips with what makes leaders tick. I suppose this comes back to my training as a psychiatrist.
The Orfeo series is designed for audiences young adult and up. Unlike some modern books set in the "heroic age" they have little sex and violence. I hope they convey the spirit of the Bronze Age and not our age!
Find him on Facebook:
Monday, February 23, 2015
Meet Laura Lynn Ashworth, author of 'Letters to Loretta From the Radio Shack'
Hello! I’m Laura Lynn Ashworth, author of the newly released book, “Letters to Loretta from the Radio Shack, A True WWII Teenage Love Story.” I have been invited as a guest blogger, an opportunity, which I appreciate. Thank you, Andi of Andi’s Young Adult Books Blog.
“Letters to Loretta from the Radio Shack,” is a true story of two teens, Sal, who is on a minesweeper in the Pacific during WWII working out of the radio shack (communications office) deciphering code. His friend, Loretta, is a 15-year girl from his neighborhood in Chicago. They exchange countless letters between 1943-1945, during the final terrifying and climatic years of WWII. Readers get to experience, in real time, what it is like being a teen and young adult at sea during D-Day and the Battle of Okinawa, and what it is like being a teenage girl, juggling jobs and trying to enjoy all that Chicago had to offer back in the ‘40s with friends (while most of the guys her age are fighting overseas). Sal and Loretta talk about their budding romance, family, friends, politics, etc., with frankness and humor. Not many WWII non-fiction books will get you to laugh as much as this one, all while drawing you into romantic twists, turns and drama of one of the most memorable war periods in history.
I have a question I would like to pose to readers of Andi’s Young Adult Books.
Pretend a Hollywood Producer comes to your door (it could happen) and says, “We’re producing this fabulous movie, Letters to Loretta from the Radio Shack, and we heard you might be perfect to star in it, trouble is, we aren’t sure which role you would like to play. You have one of three choices. Who would you like to be and why? (Gender doesn’t matter.) Would you be:
Sal, a handsome 19-year old, intelligent and funny. He goes after what he wants in life without a second thought. This includes Loretta and a job on a minesweeper deciphering code for the Navy. He takes no guff from anyone and goes through all the skirmishes of war and life as cool as a cucumber and telling it like it is.
Loretta, 15, who lives with her widowed father and aunts and uncles in a three-flat in Chicago that her extended family rents. She too is intelligent, goes to business school when her friends are going to high school and works as a bookkeeper and stenographer at the various large corporations in the city while her friends are working in factories. She spends nearly every night after work going out with her older sister and friends to jitterbug or play sports like volleyball and basketball.
Your third choice is to be a Hollywood star like Bob Hope or celebrity musicians like Artie Shaw, Bennie Goodman or Cass Daley from the Big Band Era. They travel with the USO (United Service Organization) entertaining American troops around the world from appearances and from radio shows, keeping morale up and making everyone feel closer to home when they are so far away.
Let me know who you would choose to be, especially after you read, “Letters to Loretta from the Radio Shack.” You can order a signed copy of my book on my website at www.lauralynnashowrth.com or go to Amazon or Barnes & Noble, or any estore for an unsigned copy. Ten percent of my proceeds will benefit the USO and VFW (Veterans of ForeignWars).
Excerpt from Book
(Sal is talking to Loretta in one of his letters. He is at the Navy’s “Radio School” at a University in Idaho, learning Morse Code.)
Well, you probably noticed on the envelope that I moved from the land of the Indians to the land of the co-eds. It's only a hick town out in the wilderness, but these “barbecues” out here are really sweet. Get liberty (time off) every Wednesday night for three moldy hours but have every other Saturday and Sunday off.
When I don't get the whole weekend off, I get either Saturday or Sunday off. That's what I call a rosy life. Some nice looking girls go up to these U.S.O. dances. There's only a few that can really wheel it out (dance well), but as long as they have what it takes that's all that counts.
This university is really a nice looking place and I don't know what I'm doing out here. I guess I'll find out sooner or later. We have school eight hours a day and our evenings are rather crowded. If we're not washing clothes, we are compulsed to see a movie. Beefing, beefing that’s the action word in the Navy that really makes you enjoy it. You don't care if you’re here today or shot tomorrow as long as they keep throwing grub at you.
Speaking of grub, it really is delicious and I don't mean maybe. I'll probably come out of here fatter than a hog with all the butter you want and you can just about take a bath in all the milk they sling you. No siree, home was never like this (during the Depression).
Going to school is really a riot. We have two periods of typing, two of procedure and four of code. That code takes quite a while before it's pounded in one's head, especially when it’s as thick as mine. I've just finished my first week of school and I came out all right. Every Friday we have tests in spelling and procedure and I got 3.8 on both. The highest mark you can get is 4.0 so that isn't bad.
Well, “Duchess,” I'm on guard duty right now and I better end this data before I get caught and thrown in the “hoosegow”(military prison).
Lots of Love, Sal
Thank you Andi’s Young Adult Book readers for letting me visit with you for a while. Keep an eye out for my next book, “Beauty and the Beasts…Outrageous Tales of Romance and Redemption.” It should be out by Christmas 2015.
Letters to Loretta From the Radio Shack, A True WWII Teenage Love Story
by Laura Lynn Ashworth
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
LETTERS TO LORETTA FROM THE RADIO SHACK, A True WWII Teenage Love Story
Read the rare and recently discovered real time letters between Sal, age 19, and Loretta, age 15, during the final terrifying three years of World War II, 1943-1946.
Both from the Douglas Park neighborhood in Chicago, the two adolescents discuss with humor and candor, the Navy, war, politics, hit music, life back home and their relationship.
Sal nicknamed Slabby for his movie star good looks, deciphers code out of the Navy’s radio shack on a minesweeper in the Pacific.
Loretta monikered Duchess for her aloofness, lives with aunts and her widowed father, while holding day jobs and enjoying an active social life with friends.
Letters to Loretta from the Radio Shack lets you experience World War II, both in battle and on the home front, through the eyes of adolescents in a way that Hollywood has never portrayed.
Laura Lynn Ashworth is an award-winning copywriter and political cartoonist. While helping an elderly family member with veterans administration paperwork, she ran across “the letters” and instantly knew of their rarity, freshness and historical significance. Although she received three publishing contracts within two months of sending the letters to major publishers, Ashworth decided to publish them herself on the advice of best-selling authors. She currently lives and works in a northwest suburb of Chicago.
10% of author proceeds will be donated to the USO and VFW in loving memory of Sal and Loretta.
Website: http://lauralynnashworth.com
Online store: http://lauralynnashworth.com/store/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007518694413
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Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Review of 'The Forgotten Pharaoh' by Laura DeLuca
The Forgotten Pharaoh
Julie Gerber isn't thrilled to be pulled out of school her senior year to follow her parents halfway around the world to unearth a lost pyramid. However, when the cute British guy and the mysterious financier of their project both fight for her attention, things start to get interesting.
The pharaoh known as Djedefre was cursed for the murder of his eldest brother. The work of the archaeologists brings new secrets to light, ones that prove the fallen god-king wasn't the villain history had painted him to be. Can they prove his innocence?
As the team digs deeper into the mystery, members of the party vanish or end up dead. Someone is determined to keep the truth hidden at all costs, even 4,500 years later.
**My thoughts**
I have traditionally enjoyed Laura DeLuca's books, because you never know what you are going to get. She has written quite a range of books. I admit that when I first read the blurb, I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book. I got nervous when I started reading the intro, which took place back in Ancient Egypt. While I am interested in Ancient Egypt, I am not a big fan of historical fiction. Once the first chapter came along, though, and the modern story got started, I was completely hooked.
Julie is a messed up kid, desperate for acceptance, who is forced to come along on this excursion after getting herself into some serious, scary trouble. She finds herself drawn to two young men, adding in a bit of romance to her life. Yet, she is also plagued by visions and seems to be more intuitive about the ancient mystery than anyone else who has studied it for years. Flynn is a fun young Brit. Omar isthe mysterious American man of Egyptian descent.
As I read the first half of the book, I felt certain that I knew exactly what was going to happen. While I may have been right in some respects, DeLuca definitely throws some curve balls into the plot that I was not expecting. This added layer to the ancient mystery made it strangely compelling, probably because it really was unexpected for me.
I also really enjoyed the nods to Egyptian history. I felt drawn back to my younger days when I was studying them in school.
Buy on:
Amazon * Smashwords * OmniLit * Barnes &Noble
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About the author:
Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart. In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the editor of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years. Her current works include Destiny, Destiny Unveiled, Phantom, Morrigan, Player, and Demon.
Author Links:
Laura is giving away a Egyptian Prize Pack including oil diffuser, bookmark, scarab, ankh charm, bookmark, pin and incense.
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Monday, March 18, 2013
Review of 'Profiles #5: The Vietnam War' by Daniel Polansky
Description
It takes more than one person to bring about War. This book will follow the lives of six key players during one of the most controversial wars in history.Profiles is so much more than just your typical biography. The next book in our six-in-one, full-color bio series will focus on the five W's of the Vietnam War--who, what, where, when, and why. Kids will learn all of the biographical information they need to know (background, family, education, accomplishments, etc.) about: Ho Chi Minh (prime minister of Democratic Republic of Vietnam) John F. Kennedy (US president 1961-1963), Lyndon B. Johnson (US president (1963-1969), Ngo Dinh Diem (president of South Vietnam), Henry Kissinger (US National security advisor), and William Westmoreland (US army general). This book will help illuminate one of the most controversial wars in American history for a new generation of readers.
**My thoughts**
When I was in school, the Vietnam War had been over for several years, yet no one talked about it. It was like a passing mention in a textbook. This book serves to teach the next generation more about what shaped those that came before them and to what so much media refers in our current conflicts.
The book focuses on six men who were instrumental in the conflict, each with approximately the same number of pages of information given to each one. Each one of them had a different role in the war and different reasons for their participation. Each one had different opinions of the conflict. By presenting all six of them, this book allows for a broader and more balanced look at the controversial war.
Each man's personal history, as it relates to the conflict, is given in his biographical sketch. Political reasoning and maneuvering, and military tactics are both discussed. I felt like I learned a lot from reading this book, that I had missed out on when taking history classes at a younger age.
The only thing that caught my eye was impeachment being defined as "the process by which Congress removes the president from office" when discussing Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon. Impeachment is actually the process of bringing formal charges against someone in public office, such as the President, but not necessarily removing them from office. Removal from office can result from impeachment, though. A recent example is President Clinton, who was impeached, charged and put on trial for misconduct, but was not removed from office. This stuck out to me, because I remember having this discussion in our limited coverage of the Vietnam War in high school. I also double-checked the definition at Dictionary.com and other sources.
The end of the book also includes a brief timeline outlining the major events of the conflict, a glossary of terms used throughout, and a bibliography for future reference.
I think this book would be appropriate for middle grades through adult, as one reference for studies of the Vietnam War.
I received an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Buy links: Amazon \ Barnes & Noble
Monday, March 11, 2013
Review of 'Tillie Pierce: Teen Eyewitness to the Battle of Gettysburg' by Tanya Anderson
Description
Imagine being fifteen years old, facing the bloodiest battle ever to take place on U.S. soil: the Battle of Gettysburg. In July 1863, this is exactly what happened to Tillie Pierce, a normal teenager who became an unlikely heroine of the Civil War (1861-1865). Tillie and other women and girls like her found themselves trapped during this critical three-day battle in southern Pennsylvania. Without training, but with enormous courage and compassion, Tillie and other Gettysburg citizens helped save the lives of countless wounded Union and Confederate soldiers.In gripping prose, Tillie Pierce: Teen Eyewitness to the of Battle Gettysburg takes readers behind the scenes. And through Tillie’s own words, the story of one of the Civil War’s most famous battles comes alive.
**My thoughts**
What I loved about this book... I love the real photographs. The Civil War was the first major event that was photographed, thanks in part to Matthew Brady. It was the first time that we saw a true picture of the devastation of war. The Civil War has always felt the most real to me because of that. These pictures are amazing.
I love that Tillie's real words are used throughout the book. Tanya explains the history and then uses Tillie's comments to further illustrate what she is saying. Real eyewitness accounts are significantly more powerful than someone else's interpretations. The fact that these are the observations of a teenager should speak to younger readers, as Tillie is more of one of their peers telling the story. I have visited Gettysburg and have tried to imagine what it was like. Reading her descriptions and feelings, in conjunction with the pictures, brings it more to life as a real event.
I do wish that more of Tillie's words would have been in the book. I think I need to actually find her book and read it to fulfill that desire, though. When I originally read the description, I thought it was going to mostly be Tillie, with a little commentary thrown in. Instead, it was the other way around.
Another aspect of this book that I appreciated was the section at the end that gives follow-up activities and further reading and research that kids can do.
With the amount of reading in this 100-page book and the language used, I would recommend it for middle grades and above. Adults looking for a quick read about the Civil War may also enjoy it.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
'The Burning of Isobel Key' Book Tour & Review
Contemporary New Adult
Title: The Burning of Isobel Key
Author - Jen McConnel
Date Published: October 1, 2012
Synopsis:
When
Lou travels to Scotland, she’s a mess. She’s twenty-six, unemployed,
and unsure of herself. It doesn’t help that she’s traveling with Tammy,
her best friend, who is everything Lou is not.
At
first, the trip pushes Lou towards the brink of depression, but then
she meets Brian, a handsome local tour guide. When Brian tells the
tourists about the countless witches burned in Scotland, Lou starts to
listen. And when she discovers information about Isobel Key, one of the
victims of the seventeenth century, Lou finds renewed purpose.
Lou
has begun exploring the Neo Pagan faith, a dramatic shift from her
wealthy Catholic upbringing. Despite her fears of being too “hocus
pocusy”, Lou turns to her new faith as she struggles to unravel the
mystery surrounding the death of Isobel Key. But faith or not, Lou must
face her demons if she has any hope of righting the wrongs of the past.
Read the first chapter:
CHAPTER ONE
“I quit!” Lou’s words echoed around the checkout line, and customers craned their necks to see what was happening. Red in the face, Lou looked down at her register in embarrassment. Her manager patted her shoulder.
“Let’s go back in the office to talk about this.” He turned, expecting her to follow.
“No!” Louder than she’d intended, Lou stood her ground. “You heard me. I’ve had enough of this store.” As she spoke, she tossed her nametag on the counter. An errant brown curl flipped over her eye, and she pushed it away. Under the shocked gaze of her manager and the curious stares of a snake-like line of holiday shoppers, Lou fled.
Once she was outside in the bitter December wind, she headed for the nearest T stop, acting out of habit more than conscious thought. She’d walked this easy route between the bookstore and the T for the past four years, and her body took over while her mind churned.
She had a college degree, for Pete’s sake! Cum laude from Duke University had landed her a job selling books and stationary to the snobby suburbanites outside of Boston. Sighing, she paid her fare and took her seat on the train bound for the city center.
Suddenly, the weight of what she had done hit her, and she buried her face in her hands. What was she thinking, quitting her job like that? Lou replayed the afternoon in her mind. Nothing had happened today that hadn’t happened a thousand other times. Maybe it was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back: four years of answering bizarre questions and customers who were always right had finally taken its toll on her psyche.
But now what would she do? Lou wasn’t a person who acted on impulse: she was cautious and considered her options. And now she was unemployed the week before Christmas. Lou slumped in her seat. Unless she figured something out, and fast, she might have to move back in with her family. It wasn’t that Lou had anything against her family, not really: her parents had adopted her shortly after her birth, and they’d never made her feel like anything but their cherished only child. But Lou was almost 27, and it had never been part of her plan to live at home after college. Part of her plan: that was funny, she thought. It sounded like she’d ever had a plan.
Sure, she always knew that she’d attend college after high school. With parents who had both made careers in the medical field, Lou had never doubted that she’d follow their lead and soak up as much education as she could. Money wasn’t an issue, so when she turned 18 and Duke University accepted her, she thought it would be ideal. She moved to North Carolina and spent four years studying the liberal arts, unable to decide on a tangible career path. Nothing seemed to fit, and even though she earned her degree, she didn’t really know what she was going to do after college. It was lucky that her best friend needed a roommate in Boston, Lou mused, or she might have ended up back with her parents four years ago.
Shaking her head, Lou glanced up as the train rolled to a stop. Standing unsteadily, she tried to ignore the raging pity party in her mind. As the doors whooshed open, the cold winter air assaulted her again. For the first time she realized that she’d left her coat behind in the employee lounge. Hesitating for a moment, Lou considered taking the train back and getting her things.
“There’s no going back,” she whispered. Even the excuse of her coat might be enough to put her back in her manager’s office, begging for her job back. Shivering, Lou hurried up the stairs and out of the tunnel. The old black light posts were swathed in candy cane stripes, and every window she passed displayed some holiday decorations. What a time to be unemployed, Lou thought sourly as she buzzed the doorman at her apartment.
Unlocking the door on the seventeenth floor, Lou called out nervously, “Hello? Tammy?” Her roommate didn’t answer, and Lou felt relieved. She wasn’t ready to face anyone yet, not until she’d figured out her next step. Checking the kitschy clock on the wall of the hallway, Lou realized it was only a quarter after four. Tammy wouldn’t be home ‘til seven or later. Relaxing, Lou stacked her boots neatly in the hall closet and headed to the kitchen.
The sleek, modern kitchen was a mess: remnants from Tammy’s last party were still strewn across the stainless countertops. Sighing, Lou plugged in the electric kettle and searched for a mug. While she waited for the kettle to whistle, she started to tidy up. She loaded the dishwasher carelessly and overfilled the soap container, but when she was done the room looked much more presentable. Satisfied, Lou added a packet of hot chocolate to the mug. After a moment’s hesitation, she stirred a hearty dollop of vanilla vodka into the chipped Disney World souvenir.
Leaning against the counter, Lou studied the apartment. The kitchen was open to the rest of the space, and from her vantage point, Lou could see the living room and the stairs that led to her lofted bedroom. She sighed, wondering how much longer she’d get to enjoy this apartment with her best friend. Her parents had helped her out with bills from time to time, but Lou felt certain that all assistance of this kind would stop if they found out she was no longer employed.
“What’s the matter with me?” She wondered out loud, tears in her eyes. Taking her mug, she crossed to the living room and flopped down on the fluffy red sofa. She began flipping aimlessly through the stack of magazines on the coffee table.
Suddenly, her cell phone buzzed in her pocket. Glancing at the cracked screen, Lou saw that it was Tammy calling. Sighing, she flipped the phone open.
“Hello?”
Tammy’s voice was crackly but excited. “Lou? Guess what? You’ll never guess what happened!”
Lou sighed, annoyed. “What?”
“They gave me an account!” Tammy squealed in delight. “Did you hear?”
“Tammy, that’s amazing!”
“And the best part is, guess where the account is based? Guess!”
Not wanting to play games, Lou asked, “Would you just tell me?”
“Scotland! Isn’t that awesome?”
Stunned speechless, Lou just stared at the phone.
“Lou! Louisa! Are you still there?”
She shook herself. “Yes, I’m here. Tammy, that’s great!”
“I know! They want me to go over there next week to check things out and meet everybody.”
“But isn’t next week Christmas? What about your family?”
Tammy laughed. “They won’t care. But Lou, wouldn’t it be perfect to spend Christmas in Scotland?”
Lou agreed that it would be. She ignored the small bubble of jealousy starting to form in her heart.
“Tammy, I’m really excited for you.”
“For us, you mean.”
“What are you talking about?”
Tammy’s voice broke into a garbled stream of words.
“Tammy!” Lou shouted. “I can’t hear you.”
“In the T…we’ll talk… home…”
The cell phone made a crunching sound and the call dropped. Lou looked at her phone and leaned back into the couch cushions. Wasn’t it just like fate to give Tammy something so wonderful, she mused, when she was so miserable? Sniffing, Lou drained her cup of spiked cocoa and headed upstairs to lie down.
**My thoughts**
I really enjoyed this book. I love history and have always been fascinated by the witch trials of Salem in the 1600s. The interludes in this book that tell Isobel's story satisfy that side of me. It makes me wonder if her story is a true one, or at least based on a true story. It is a very believable one, especially considering that time period.
Lou is a mess. She is struggling with working in a crap retail job that has nothing to do with her degree and top marks in college, while her best friend and roommate is making a ton of money and living the good life. Her adoptive parents raised her well, but her mother is condescending and domineering. She longs to find her place in this world and to have some purpose in her life. Her trip to Scotland, and Isobel's story, gives her more than she had ever hoped she would find.
A little romance thrown into the story doesn't hurt any, either! I dream of going abroad and having such an affair!
Lou's story comes full circle and has closure. I would still be interested in reading more about her new life, as well as other stories by this author.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author Bio:
Jen McConnel first began writing
poetry as a child. Since then, her words have appeared in a variety of
magazines and journals, including Sagewoman, PanGaia, and The
Storyteller (where she won the people’s choice 3rd place award for her
poem, “Luna”).
She is also an active reviewer for Voices of Youth Advocates (VOYA), and proud member of SCBWI, NCWN, and SCWW.
A Michigander by birth, she now
lives and writes in the beautiful state of North Carolina. When she
isn't crafting worlds of fiction, she teaches writing composition at a
community college. Once upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a
librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time.
Contact Links:
FOLLOW THE VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR November 23 - December 23
November 23 - Reading Addiction Blog Tours - Meet and Greet
November 23 - Gothic Angel Book Reviews - Review/Giveaway/Excerpt
November 24 - Disincentive Reviews - Givewaway/Excerpt/PROMO
November 25 - Hooked in a Book - Review/Excerpt
November 25 - Winged Reviews - Guest Post/Giveaway/Excerpt/PROMO
November 25 - For the Love of Film and Novels - Giveaway/Guest Post/Excerpt/PROMO
November 26 - Book Addict - Review/Giveaway/Excerpt
November 26 - Beth Art From the Heart - Review/Excerpt
November 29 - My Seryniti - Review/Interview/Excerpt
November 30 - Lovely Reads - Interview/Giveaway/Guest Post/PROMO
December 1 - Books For Me - Review
December 2 - Bless Their Hearts Mom - Review/Giveaway/Excerpt
December 3 - Marie Loves Books - Review/Giveaway
December 5 - YA Novel Reader - Review/Giveaway/Excerpt
December 6 - Bea's Book Nook - Review/Giveaway
December 7 - Forget the Hosework, I'm Reading - Review/Giveaway/Excerpt
December 8 - Bookishly Devoted - Review
December 10 - Cozie Corner - Review/Giveaway
December 11 - Kimmie's Bookshelf - Guest Post/Excerpt/Giveaway/PROMO
December 12 - Genuine Jen - Review/Giveaway
December 13 - Books Books, The Magical Fruit - Giveaway/Excerpt/Interview/PROMO
December 14 - What's Beyond Forks - Review/Interview/Giveaway/Excerpt
December 15 - Pink Fluffy Hearts - Review/Giveaway/Guest Post/Excerpt
December 16 - Paulette's Papers- Giveaway/Excerpt/PROMO
December 17 - My Miscellaneous Bookshelf - Giveaway/Excerpt/PROMO
December 17 - Reader Girls - Review/Giveaway/Excerpt
December 19 - A Bibliophiles Thoughts - Review/Giveawy/Excerpt
December 20 - Celtic Lady Book Reviews - Review/Excerpt
December 21 - Book-A-Holic - Review/Giveaway
December 22 - Booklovin Mamas - Giveaway/Guest Post/Excerpt/PROMO
December 23 - Andi's YA Books - Review/Giveaway/Guest Post/Excerpt
Friday, November 2, 2012
Cover Reveal! 'Rouge' by Leigh Talbert Moore
Welcome to the cover reveal for Rouge by Leigh Talbert Moore!
Rouge
Release Date:
Late November 2012
Paperback/e-book
Summary from
Goodreads:
Trapped in the underground theater world of 1890s
New Orleans, Hale Ferrer has only one goal: escape. But not without Teeny, the
orphan-girl she rescued from the streets and promised to protect.
Freddie Lovel, Hale's wealthy Parisian suitor, seems to be the easy solution. If only his touch could arouse her interest like Beau's, the penniless stagehand who captures her heart.
Denying her fears, Hale is poised to choose love until an evil lurking in their cabaret-home launches a chain of events that could cost her everything.
(Mature YA/light historical/theater romance)
Freddie Lovel, Hale's wealthy Parisian suitor, seems to be the easy solution. If only his touch could arouse her interest like Beau's, the penniless stagehand who captures her heart.
Denying her fears, Hale is poised to choose love until an evil lurking in their cabaret-home launches a chain of events that could cost her everything.
(Mature YA/light historical/theater romance)
About the Author
Wife and mom by
day, writer by day, editor by day, reader when time permits, chocoholic, lover
of contemporary romance, lover of YA, lover of great books, beach bum,
occasionally I sleep.
THE TRUTH ABOUT FAKING is my debut young adult romance. It's just a light, happy book with a hot guy and a little message tucked inside. (Purchase on Amazon: http://amzn.to/SgGuJm)
ROUGE, my next mature-YA/New Adult romance, will be out mid-Nov 2012. It's neither light nor happy, but it does have a hot guy. And a cabaret...
THE TRUTH ABOUT FAKING is my debut young adult romance. It's just a light, happy book with a hot guy and a little message tucked inside. (Purchase on Amazon: http://amzn.to/SgGuJm)
ROUGE, my next mature-YA/New Adult romance, will be out mid-Nov 2012. It's neither light nor happy, but it does have a hot guy. And a cabaret...
And now for the cover reveal for Rouge!
Be sure to check out the tour, presented by YA Bound, from November 26 - December 1. Follow the tour here.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Review of 'A Passion for Victory: The Story of the Olympics in Ancient and Modern Times'
It opens with a chronology that highlights major events. The first story is about a man who survived the icy waters after the Titanic sank and went on to be an Olympic champion. The timing of that story is also notable because 2012 marks the 100 year-anniversary of the Titanic sinking.
The first two chapters go into a lot of detail about the original Olympic games that took place in Ancient Greece. It compares those games to the modern ones. The next several chapters focus on the revival of the modern Olympic games in the 1800s, particularly the first 100 years. The epilogue focuses on the Olympics around WWII and includes several photographs. An appendix features lists of medal records won from 1896 to 1948.
This book reads very much like a textbook and isn't as engaging as others I have read. The language used is more appropriate for older readers, which is why I have it classified as young adult and not so much as a chapter book. Also, discussions of Hitler and political topics are more appropriate for older students. These aspects of the Olympics are not as often discussed when talking about the topic. I did also notice much more discussion of women in the politics, as well. It is full of lots of information and resources for further study.
I received a complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest review.
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