In My Backyard…
**Click on Photos to enlarge
…Just one reason I love living here!
Topics: Animals, Main Page | 14 Comments »
Yummy Mummy Manifesto - Giveaway
Ballantine Books sent me a complimentary copy of this luscious book (released May 20, 2008). Since I’m not a mommy (nor a mommy-to-be) I didn’t read the book cover to cover. But I did thumb through its gorgeous pages. This is a big, glossy manual of sorts which explores the art of mothering. What makes this different from other books on motherhood is its approach to style and decor, and “holding on to your spirit, creativity, wit, and sensuality” during and after pregnancy. I especially loved the beautiful illustrations. Here are a couple to whet your appetite (click on each to enlarge):
I’ve decided to give this book away to one lucky winner. And this is how you can win:
- Go to the blog Novels Now, read one of the book reviews posted there, and leave a comment.
- Then come back here and leave a comment for me here on this post. You MUST tell me on which post at Novels Now you left a comment. I’d also love to hear why you’d like to win this book.
Contest is open only to US and Canadian residents. I will randomly draw a name on July 26th.
Good Luck!
Topics: Give-aways, Main Page | 10 Comments »
The White Mary - Book Review
“Listen,” he says to her sternly, “I will tell you a secret about your demons: they are never stronger than you.” -From The White Mary, page 337-
Marika Vecera is an talented journalist who has traveled to the most troubled parts of the world and risked her life to witness war, genocide, torture and famine. She has learned to push her emotions down and keep others at an emotional distance in order to do her job. Robert Lewis is the person who inspires her - a elusive, troubled, and hard-edged journalist who rarely gives interviews. When Marika learns that Lewis has apparently commited suicide (although his body is never recovered), she decides to hunker down in Boston and write Lewis’ biography, while tentatively exploring a new relationship with the sweet and perceptive Seb. But when an elderly missionary reveals he may have seen Lewis in the jungles of Papua New Guinea after Lewis’ supposed suicide, the information motivates Marika to leave everything she knows to search for him.
Kira Salak, herself a noted journalist, writes knowledgably about Papua New Guinea - an exotic place which homes virtually all of the known species of birds of paradise, as well as more kinds of orchids than any other country. But is is also 85% tropical rain forest and jungle buzzing with insects, and filled with swamps, leeches, crocodiles, and snakes. It is here where most of the novel takes place - plunging Marika into a harsh environment filled with danger. There are graphic descriptions of rape, torture and murder as Salak tells Marika’s story which is really about one woman’s journey from despair to hope.
At times the narrative felt emotionally detached - a parallel to the Marika’s character - as though the reader was sitting from afar and watching the tale unfold. Nonetheless, I was gripped by the story and horrified by the more graphic images. Like all good stories, this one had me turning the pages long after I should have gone to bed.
The White Mary is Salak’s first novel, although she has written two non-fiction books and been a contributing editor for National Geographic Adventure magazine. Salak has won the PEN award for journalism as well. Here is an author who is as interesting as her work - and for that alone, I would recommend reading this book. Be forewarned, however, it is not a novel for the faint of heart.
The White Mary is due to be released by Henry Holt and Company in August 2008.
Topics: Books, Main Page | 4 Comments »
Win This Quilt…
Quick…hurry over to the Old Red Barn Co. and enter to win a gorgeous hand-made quilt.
Contest ends July 23rd!!
Topics: Give-aways, Main Page | 3 Comments »
Sunday Salon - July 13, 2008
July 13, 2008
9:30AM
Good morning! The heat in Northern California is finally dropping and we are in a “cooling” trend, which means that instead of temperatures nearing 120 degrees, they will be closer to 100 degrees. I hope for the sake of the firefighters that the weather predictions are correct. But, I won’t bore you with the weather. We’re here to talk books, right?
I have had a delightful week of reading The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (read my review). I’m almost embarrassed to say that this was my first Kingsolver novel. And not only that, but I’ve had the book waiting to be read for more than four years. Why I never picked it up before, I can’t say. But once I did, I was hooked immediately. This one will make my top ten for 2008, without a doubt. Have you read Kingsolver before? What other novels by her can you recommend?
My current read is The White Mary, by Kira Salak - set in Papua New Guinea, it tells the story of Marika Vecera who is a journalist searching for a man thought to be dead, but recently seen in the jungle. So far I’m liking this book which is due to be released next month by Henry Holt and Company. Salak is herself a journalist who has traveled all over the world and written several non-fiction books (although this is her first novel). Here is a very interesting article about her which ran in National Geographic. In the past, I’ve discovered that journalists sometimes make the best fiction writers, so I’m not surprised that this novel is capturing my interest. Do you pick novels whose authors seem fascinating?
On a completely different subject, Julie from Bookworm honored me with the Excellent Blog award this week. Thank you, Julie!
And I also won a book at Musings of a Bookish Kitty in honor of Wendy’s tenth year wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary and thank you, Wendy!
So where is your reading and blogging taking you this week? Wherever it is, I hope you enjoy the ride.
See you next week, Sunday Saloners!
Topics: Main Page, Sunday Salon | 19 Comments »
The Poisonwood Bible - Book Review
Believe this: the mistakes are part of the story. I am born of a man who believed he could tell nothing but the truth, while he set down for all time the Poisonwood Bible. -narrated by Adah in The Poisonwood Bible-
The Poisonwood Bible is a family saga which begins in 1959 when Nathan Price, an evangelical Baptist minister, moves from Georgia to the Belgium Congo with his wife and four daughters. His goal, as a missionary, is to bring Christianity to the people living in a tiny village called Kilanga. The novel is narrated alternately by Nathan’s wife Orleanna and her daughters Rachel, Adah, Leah and Ruth May beginning when they arrive in the jungle and continuing through several decades.
This is a novel about a complex region which has struggled with independence, war, starvation, sickness and overzealous interference from other countries. In the midst of this heartbreaking history, the Price family’s struggles are played out in parallel. The family, clearly unprepared for life in the harsh environment of Africa (’We came from Bethlehem, Georgia, bearing Betty Crocker cake mixes…‘) become immersed in a culture rich with spirituality and dependent on community to survive the severe weather conditions and lack of food.
Barbara Kingsolver creates characters whose voices are unique, darkly comic, and compelling. Rachel, a teenager who chooses to save her hand mirror when the village is attacked by a swarm of killer ants, represents the naive and ignorant American attitude toward societies different from our own. Adah, born crippled and mute, sees the world forwards and backwards - a unique vision which allows her to appreciate a new culture. Leah is her father’s little girl - trying desperately to gain his approval…and it is she who changes the most as the novel progresses. Ruth May, the “baby” of the family, is also its ambassador of good will. And finally there is Orleanna, married to a damaged man whose fears and insecurities are turned brutally against his family. It is Orleanna who begins and ends the story.
The Poisonwood Bible is a brilliant work of fiction which encompasses several themes. Kingsolver writes beautifully, and her love of language is played out in Rachel’s comic butchering of phrases and words; and Adah’s tendency towards palidromes and reading backwards.
Nommo, I wrote down on the notebook I had opened out for us at our big table. Nomom ommon NoMmo, I wrote, wishing to learn this word forward and backward. -as narrated by Adah in The Poisonwood Bible, page 210-
That would be Axelroot all over, to turn up with an extra wife or two claiming that’s how they do it here. Maybe he’s been in Africa so long he has forgotten that we Christians have our own system of marriage, and it is call Monotony. -as narrated by Rachel in The Poisonwood Bible, page 405-
Thematically, the novel examines the ideas of faith, redemption, and forgiveness. More widely, it explores the history of the Congo with all its beauty and terror, the effects of war, and the terrible impact of government when it collides with individuals. Ultimately the novel reveals our humanity when presented with great challenges as each character takes a different path on their way to resolving their own inner turmoil.
This is a novel which begs to be read, if only for its magnificent scope. In The Poisonwood Bible, Kingsolver demonstrates exactly why she is an author who is lauded and recommended over and over again. It is impossible for me to write a review which will do this book the justice it deserves. I can only say: Read it. You won’t be disappointed.
Highly recommended.
Passages from The Poisonwood Bible
About Faith:
My father wears his faith like the bronze breastplate of God’s foot soldiers, while our mother’s is more like a good cloth coat with a secondhand fit. -as narrated by Leah in The Poisonwood Bible, page 68-
About War:
A war leaves holes in so much more than the dams and roads that can be rebuilt. -as narrated by Adah in The Poisonwood Bible, page 523-
About Who We Are:
The power is in the balance: we are our injuries, as much as we are our successes. -as narrated by Adah in The Poisonwood Bible, page 496-
About Survival:
So what do you do now? You get to find your own way to dig out a heart and shake it off and hold it up to the light again. -as narrated by Leah in The Poisonwood Bible, page 474-
To save my sanity, I learned to pad around hardship in soft slippers and try to remark on its good points. -as narrated by Orleanna in The Poisonwood Bible, page 200-
I can still recite the litany of efforts it took to push a husband and children alive and fed through each day in the Congo. The longest journey always began with sitting up in bed at the rooster’s crow, parting the mosquito curtain, and slipping on shoes - for there were hookworms lying in wait on the floor, itching to burrow into our bare feet. -as narrated by Orleanna in The Poisonwood Bible, page 90-
About Grief:
As long as I kept moving, my grief streamed out behind me like a swimmer’s long hair in water. I knew the weight was there but it didn’t touch me. Only when I stopped did the slick, dark stuff of it come floating around my face, catching my arms and throat till I began to drown. So I just didn’t stop. -as narrated by Orleanna in The Poisonwood Bible, page 381-
About Destiny:
Had I not married a preacher named Nathan Price, my particular children would never have seen the light of this world. I walked through the valley of my fate, is all, and learned to love what I could lose. -as narrated by Orleanna in The Poisonwood Bible, page 381-
A Map of the Congo Region
(with link to information)
Topics: Books, Five-Ten Star Books, Main Page | 24 Comments »
Friday Finds - July 11, 2008
It’s Friday - and you know what that means? Another edition of Friday Finds, brought to you by Jenn (note that this is now at Jenn’s NEW blog).
I’ve discovered several new to me books through the lit-bloggers. They include:
- The Speed Queen, by Stuart O’Nan featured at Hieroglyphic Streets. I recently read O’Nan’s latest novel Songs for the Missing (read my review) which I LOVED. So I’ve been on the look-out for other highly recommended O’Nan books. The Speed Queen is about an Oklahoma girl gone bad who shares her story on the eve of her execution. There are a variety of links at Hieroglyphic Streets for readers to learn more about the book.
- A Summer Affair AND Barefoot, by Elin Hiilderbrand featured at Books On the Brain (along with a give-away - which of course I entered!). What is it about summer that makes books like these look so good? I must confess that I have never read a Hilderbrand novel, but the covers of her books draw me to them. And for that alone, I will need to read at least one of these.
- Madapple, by Christina Medrum featured on MawBooks. Here’s another one that begs to be read for the cover alone. I love discovering interesting authors whose books I’ve never read. This is Medrum’s first novel which is about a 15 year old living in isolation with her overbearing mother. Okay - it might be a bit strange, but it also is oddly appealing. Onto my wish list it goes!
- The Condition, by Jennifer Haigh featured on Booking Mama. This novel is about a woman with Turner’s Disease and how her condition impacts her life and those around her. Like Booking Mama, I also enjoyed Haigh’s book Mrs. Kimble and so I’d like to read another novel by this author. This one sounds like something I’d like.
- The Memory of Water, by Karen White featured on The Friendly Book Nook. Here’s another book with a great cover (What is it about cover art that pulls me in? Do any of you also pick books purely for their covers?) The novel is set in South Carolina and centers around two sisters and a family secret. Enough said - this one is almost guaranteed to appeal to me.
- Garden Spells AND Sugar Queen, by Sarah Addison Allen featured on Just Another Blogger (Kristy). Two more books which sound like great summer reads - easy, light, well-written (and once again…gorgeous covers). I’ve been seeing these two books on a lot of the lit-bloggers lately, and most of the time they are getting good reviews.
So there you go - my recent finds tempting me to grow my overly large TBR stack. They’ll go on my bulging Amazon wish list for now! To see more Friday Finds, visit Jenn’s post today and scroll through the comments with links to other participants’ lists.
Topics: Books, Friday Finds, Main Page | 10 Comments »
Weekly Geeks #10 - Magazines
This week’s “assignment” is all about the magazines we read. Dewey wrote:
For each magazine you want to talk about, here are a few questions. Answer as many or as few as you want.
1. Name of magazine.
2. Do you subscribe or just buy it now and then?
3. What’s your favorite regular feature in the magazine?
4. What do you think your interest in this magazine says about you?
5. How long have you been reading this magazine?
6. Is there any unique or quirky aspect to the magazine that keeps you reading?
I read a lot of magazines…and I thought the best way to talk about them would be to break them up into categories. To read more about each magazine (including subscription information) click on the photo of the magazine cover.
I. Physical Therapy - Professional Magazines
As a California licensed physical therapist, I am continually upgrading my knowledge of what is current in the field. Some of the magazines I get come to me at no cost, simply because I’m a licensed PT. Others I must pay a membership to receive.
Today in PT - published by Steve Hauber is an attractive, glossy freebie which explores topics in the major areas of PT including: cardiopulmonary, geriatrics and home health, neurology, pediatrics, and sports and orthopedics. I most enjoy the sections on home health, neurology and pediatrics as they deal with information pertaining to my business, as well as my work as a home health physical therapist AND my volunteer work with children in Hippotherapy and therapeutic horseback riding.
Advance for Physical Therapists & PT Assistants is a trade magazine published by the APTA. It is another freebie and has the latest information about my profession, as well as a wealth of job advertisements. I enjoy the book reviews, information on conferences and the articles on the latest technologies.
Hippotherapy magazine comes to me through my membership with the American Hippotherapy Association (click here to learn more about what Hippotherapy is all about). I usually read this one cover to cover, but my favorite sections are those which give ideas about treatment on the horse.
Strides is the official publication of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) and I get this one through my membership with that organization. This is a fun magazine designed to assist instructors in Therapeutic Horseback Riding programs. Again, this is one I enjoy cover to cover.
II. Book Related Magazines
World Literature Today is published bimonthly through the University of Oklahoma. I just started subscribing to this fascinating publication about a year ago. Often I find several interesting articles, and always I find new books to add to my wish list. This month’s edition (which just arrived today) is focused on the subject of the world’s rapidly changing ecology.
Bookmarks Magazine comes out once a month and is a terrific resource for book reviews and opinions about books. I subscribe to this one and look forward to reading each and every issue. I love the section which focuses on a new author each month.
Poets and Writers is also a bimonthly magazine devoted to writers, poets and the literary life. There is always plenty of information on writers conferences and news and trends in the literary world. I don’t subscribe to this one, but I often pick up a copy in the bookstore. The website for this magazine is fabulous - check it out.
III. Lifestyle, Regional and Cooking Magazines
Fine Cooking is one of the best cooking magazines out there - but it is expensive. I don’t subscribe to it (yet), but I do buy a copy when I’m feeling flush. It is glossy with gorgeous photos, and the recipes are those anyone can manage. One of my favorite regular features is the one about Equipment.
I’ve been subscribing to Sunset magazine now for too many years to count. This is a regional magazine that covers food, gardening, travel and home in the West. I constantly am ripping out the travel articles and filing them in a loose leaf binder for vacation and getaway ideas.
Country Home is also a longtime favorite of mine. I’ve been a subscriber for over 20 years now! I love the fresh ideas for home and garden. My favorite regular feature is probably Antiquing Highway.
Thanks for taking a tour through my favorite magazines. Other Weekly Geeks who have also posted on this topic are:
- Maree who shares her favorite cross stitching magazine
- Jessica who offers an eclectic mix of magazines
- Julie who enlightens us with a magazine which is designed to increase cross-cultural awareness
To see all of this weeks posts, visit Dewey’s post about Weekly Geeks #10 and scroll down to Mr Linky.
Topics: Main Page, Weekly Geeks | 17 Comments »
I’m a Winner…
In the last couple of weeks, I’ve managed to snag A Foreign Affair, by Caro Peacock in a book give-away hosted by Shawnee at Reading in Appalachia. I’ve been wanting to read this one and was really excited to win it. Thanks, Shawnee!
I also participated in Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-A-Thon and won 3 Bookmooch points for being one of the participants who raised money for Reading Is Fundamental. Thanks, Dewey!
There are tons of great give-aways out there this week. Check out Books on the Brain where you can win both of Elin Hilderbrand’s books: A Summer Affair and Barefoot. Also Wendy at Musings of a Bookish Kitty is having TWO give-aways in honor of her wedding anniversary.
Topics: Give-aways, Main Page | 4 Comments »
July Book Blowout - Mini Challenge #1
We’ve been challenged to Introduce ourselves to everyone doing this challenge. Here’s my introduction:
1. Describe yourself in one sentence: I’m highly motivated, joyous (most of the time), loyal and completely addicted to books.
2. What book will you start the challenge with? I just finished my first book which was People of the Book, by Geraldine Brooks (read my review here). I’m now reading The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver.
3. Where is your favourite place to read? I love curling up on the couch, or sitting on my porch in the rocker. And reading in bed is always a favorite spot.
4. What is your favourite book of all time? I would have to say The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak. Although I also love Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.
5. Remind us all of your challenge target: I hope to read one more than my monthly average which will be 9 books.
Topics: Main Page, Memes | 4 Comments »