Thursday, February 28, 2013

Thursday Thoughts--Ashenden


Ashenden

A grand English manor house is both the setting and central character in Elizabeth Wilhide's novel, Ashenden.  Told through the voices of those who have resided or worked within its walls over a span of more than two centuries, the story is rich in architectural detail and poignant drama.   

Ashenden opens in 2010, when siblings Ros and Charlie learn that they have inherited the deteriorated Ashenden Park from their aunt.  As they reunite at the premises to undertake whether they can agree to restore or sell the property, the story moves back in time to the house's construction in 1775, with subsequent chapters chronicling the history of the house and its inhabitants in the 1800's and 1900's.

Through many generations and two world wars, individuals and families  (and the estate as well) experience financial or other hardship as their lives unfold within Ashenden's walls.  But the ultimate question is what will become of Ashenden Park itself--will it survive as a home for future generations?

Wilhide creates a cast of interconnected characters--owners, workers, and their descendants--whose common bond is the manor house.  Ashenden is an engaging glimpse into the past which raises the question, can history and place be symbolically and literally preserved?  The novel is sure to be enjoyed by a wide audience, including Anglophiles and historical fiction readers.

Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

Thursday Thoughts--Ashenden was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without express written consent.


Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday--Another Fun Read

 










The Waiting on Wednesday concept is a weekly feature of the Breaking the Spine blog.  It's a great way to share information about a forthcoming title that is on my radar screen with other readers.





 This week's anticipated book:



 Blue-Ribbon Jalape?o Society Jubilee

The Blue-Ribbon Jalapeño Society Jubilee by Carolyn Brown
Publication Date:  March 5, 2013
Publisher:  Sourcebooks, Incorporated
 Preorder now from online and bricks and mortar bookstores

From barnesandnoble.com:

Bestelling author Carolyn Brown makes her first foray into women's fiction with this poignant and hilarious novel about four friends in Cadillac, Texas—where the best jalapeños in the world are grown.

Everything is calm in Cadillac, Texas until Aunt Agnes declares war on Violet Prescott, the president of the Blue-Ribbon Jalapeño Society, just in time for the annual jubilee. But after the festivities—and the hostilities—are over, it's four friends who are left standing, proving once again that friendship is forever.

My thoughts:  This sounds like a fun, light-hearted tale with quirky characters--it could be that breath of spring that lifts the spirits out of the doldrums of winterAnd the colorful cover is so cheery and bright!

Enjoy life with books.

Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

Waiting on Wednesday--Another Fun Read was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without express written consent.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros #2



First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros is a weekly meme hosted by Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea.  The idea is to share the first paragraph or two of a book I am currently reading or planning to read sometime soon.

This week I'm featuring the first paragraphs of The Lion Is In by Delia Ephron, a book I received from the publisher that I'm looking forward to reading soon-ish.

Delia Ephron is a bestselling author and screenwriter known for her humorous take on life.  Her works include the novels, The Girl With the Mermaid Hair and Hanging Up; and the films, You've Got Mail, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and Hanging Up (based on her novel).

 The Lion Is In
 Published by Blue Rider Press/Penguin Group, 2012

Chapter 1
"Three hours south of Baltimore.  Six p.m. or so.  June third.

Two young women stand by the side of a rural two-lane highway.  They are not sure what the road is or where it goes.  In a frenzy, they left the interstate at a random exit, took one turn and then another.  They are heading south, not intentionally.

They are pretty enough to stop traffic, although there isn't any to stop.  Lana is wearing ripped jeans, a T-shirt, and those flat plastic shoes called jellies.  Tracee is in a wedding dress and veil.  She has been crying for several hours and has run out of tears.  Now she is simply sniffling and her nose is red.  Her dress and shoes don't match but no one can see that because her strapless gown is floor-length, a grogeous swath of satin, beading, and lace.  Even though she keeps the hem off the ground--clutching and hoisting the sides to bunch it around her hips--her copious ruffled underskirt hides black platform sandals.

Their car, an old Mustang, has a flat."

What do you think?  Would you keep reading?  I'm in--just need to figure out when.


Enjoy life with books . . .
Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader
First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros #2 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without express written consent.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Mystery Monday


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I'm an avid fan of mysteries--especially cozy series--and today I'm highlighting one of the best mystery lovers' websites currently on the internet.  If you are a mystery lover, you may already be aware of this site, but if you haven't seen it, you are in for a treat.

Stop You're Killing Me is a comprehensive resource for mystery novels and authors, with more than 47,000 books and over 4,100 authors listed.   Series and non-series books alike are well organized in categories including character by name, diversity, and occupation; location setting; holiday books; new releases; major award winners; historical periods;  and read-alikes.  With these guides, you'll never be at a loss regarding what to read next or for new information.

This is the go-to place for all mystery reads--as well as crime, thriller, suspense, and spy novels.  In fact, the site is so fabulous that it has twice received an Anthony Award (2011 and 2008) for best mystery website/blog.

Be sure to sign up for a bi-monthly newsletter delivered to your email inbox, which will keep you up to date on the latest news, book releases, and series updates.

Enjoy the read . . .

Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader
 
Mystery Monday was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without express written consent.



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Sunday, February 24, 2013

Sunday Post/Stacking the Shelves/Weekly Book Recap



Here's my weekly recap of books that I acquired this week, which I am sharing on the following blogs:










Sunday Post, a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where bloggers share weekly book recaps and other news.

 


  Stacking the Shelves, a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, where bloggers share the books they are adding to their shelves.
 
My Week in Books . . . February 18 -24

Finished reading . . .
 Defending Jacob          Defending Jacob by William Landay

Still reading . . .
 Ashenden         Ashenden  by Elizabeth Wilhide

Downloaded on my Nook . . .
      HeiressHonoluluHe Loves Me Not: a novel of suspense
Heiress by Susan May Warren, Honolulu by Alan Brennert, He Loves Me Not by Christine Kersey

Downloaded on my Kindle iPad app . . .
 Product DetailsProduct Details\Product Details
Going for Broke by Nina Howard, Pam of Babylon by Suzanne Jenkins, Don't Let Me Go by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Enjoy life with books...

Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

Sunday Post/Stacking the Shelves/Weekly Book Recap was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without express written consent.


Saturday, February 23, 2013

Saturday Shorts: Weekend Words


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"I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve."
--Charles de Montesquieu, French Philosopher (1689-1755)

Read this and other de Montesquieu quotes online at Brainy Quotes.



Enjoy life with books.

Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

Saturday Shorts--Weekend Words was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without express written consent.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Book Club Friday


 leisuire activities,announcements,book club,gatherings,meetings,reading groups,signs


Today is one of those rare occasions when all of the planets are in alignment.  In addition to welcoming the end of the work week, I have the pleasure of meeting with two book groups today.  It's what I consider book heaven.

The first meeting is at lunchtime at the local public library (a five minute drive from the library I work at). This group gathers once a month for an informal discussion of books that members have read since the last meeting. The librarian who facilitates the group is a former colleague of mine, and she and I use the opportunity to highlight forthcoming titles and offer recommendations for next reads.

The second meeting is with one of two formal book clubs that I belong to.  The group meets once a month over a leisurely dinner at a member's home. At the meeting we will be discussing Defending Jacob by William Landay, and deciding what to read for our March dinner discussion.

My weekend is definitely off to a good start . . . hope yours is too!

Enjoy the read.

Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

Book Club Friday was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without express written consent.


Thursday, February 21, 2013

Thursday Thoughts--Anais Nin

Photo Source: biography.com

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
--Anais Nin, 1903-1977

Read this and other Anais Nin quotes online at Quotations Page.



Today is the birthday of author, diarist, and actress Anais Nin, born on February 21, 1903 in the Paris suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine, France.  She is best known for her novels, such as Delta of Venus (1969), and Little Birds (1979), and her voluminous diaries.  Information about Nin's life and work can be found online in Encyclopaedia Britannicaanaisnin.com, and IMDb, the Internet Movie Database.


Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

Thursday Thoughts--Anais Nin was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without express written consent.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday--New Suspense

The Waiting on Wednesday concept is a weekly feature of the Breaking the Spine blog.  It's a great way to share information about a forthcoming title that is on my radar screen with other readers.


Today's anticipated book:
The Burning Air: A Novel

The Burning Air by Erin Kelly
Publication Date:  February 21, 2013
Publisher:  Pamela Dorman Books
Preorder now from online and bricks and mortar bookstores
 
From amazon.com:
The MacBrides lead a cozy life of upper class privilege: good looks (more or less), a beautiful home, tuition-free education at the prestigious private school where Rowan is headmaster, an altruistic righteousness inherited from magistrate Lydia.

But when Rowan and his three grown children gather for the first time since Lydia’s passing at the family’s weekend home—a restored barn in the English countryside—years of secrets surface, and they discover a stranger in their midst. A stranger who is convinced that Lydia was a murderer. A stranger who has been exacting vengeance upon the family for years without their ever knowing. And one who will threaten the youngest MacBride, baby Edie, and the clan’s memory of Lydia, shattering their world forever.

The Burning Air
is Erin Kelly's most chilling novel yet­—a novel that fans of Sophie Hannah and Kate Atkinson will find spellbinding.
 
My thoughts:  I haven't read a suspense novel in a few months, since Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, which totally captivated me.  As a fan of stories set in the English countryside (eagerly awaiting Season 4 of Downton Abbey) and plots with family secrets, I'm adding this book to my to be read list for a change of pace.

Enjoy life with books.

Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

Waiting on Wednesday--New Suspense was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without express written consent.
 
 

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros #1


Today I am participating for the first time in First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, a weekly meme hosted by Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea.  The idea is to share the first paragraph or two of a book I am currently reading or planning to read sometime soon. 

This week I'm featuring the first paragraphs of Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, a book I received from the publisher that I'm looking forward to reading soon-ish.  This is the follow up novel to the highly popular The Last Letter from Your Lover, which I enjoyed.

Me Before You 
Published by Pamela Dorman Books/Viking, December 2012


Prologue

2007

"When he emerges from the bathroom she is awake, propped up against the pillows and flicking through the travel brochures that were beside his bed.  She is wearing one of his T-shirts, and her long hair is tousled in a way that prompts reflexive thoughts of the previous night.  He stands there, enjoying the brief flashback, rubbing the water from his hair with a towel.

She looks up from a brochure and pouts.  She is probably slightly too old to pout, but they've been going out a short enough time for it still to be cute."

What do you think?  Would you keep reading?  I'm in--just need to figure out when. 

Enjoy life with books . . .

Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader
 
First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros #1 was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without express written consent.

Monday, February 18, 2013

Monday Mo[u]rning

Downton Abbey Cast (Photo: pbs.org)


How will I spend the next few months of Sunday nights after watching the final episode of Downton Abbey Season 3?   I've grown accustomed to the weekly mix of humorous, tense, happy, sad, and unexpected moments that have come to characterize the series.  After last night's final scene, I'm left to ponder the future of the Crawleys and the others in their orbit. 

Thus today, the wait for Season 4 begins.  As far as I can tell, the schedule hasn't been announced yet, and I'm reluctant to search extensively online for the information lest I discover spoilers.  To limit that possibility, I've resigned myself to signing up for a DVD availability email alert from amazon.com.

In the meantime, how will I keep feelings of mourning and series withdrawal at bay?  I'll start by finishing Ashenden by Elizabeth Wilhide.  The English manor house in the story is very much like Downton Abbey, but the plot and characters are quite different. 

Other suggested reads for whiling away the hours are stand-alone novel Engagement at Beaufort Hall by Jane Feather and first-in-a-series Summerset Abbey by T.J. Brown.

                       Engagement at Beaufort Hall     Summerset Abbey     Summerset Abbey: A Bloom in Winter

The second book in Brown's series, A Bloom in Winter, will be available on March 5th, and can be preordered now.   


If you are a Downton Abbey fan, how will you handle the wait for Season 4?


Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

Monday Mo[u]rning was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without express written consent.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Sunday Post--Stacking the Shelves--My Weekly Book Recap





 books,leisure,people,reading,relaxing,women,chairs,hats,sunglasses,sitting









I'm delighted to be linking my weekly book recap to two memes this week:

 
                                          
Sunday Post, a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where bloggers share weekly book recaps and other news . . . AND . . .
 
Stacking the Shelves, a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, where bloggers share the books they are adding to their shelves.

My Week in Books . . . February 11 - 17

 Still reading . . .
      Ashenden  Ashenden by Elizabeth Wilhide

Borrowed from my local library . . .
                    Defending Jacob       The Diary of a Provincial Lady       Speaking from among the Bones (Flavia de Luce Series #5)
                                                   
                                          Fonduing Fathers (White House Chef Mystery Series #6)      Absent Friends

Defending Jacob by William Landay; The Diary of a Provincial Lady by E.M. Delafield; Speaking from Among the Bones by Alan Bradley; Fonduing Fathers by Julie Hyzy; Absent Friends by S.J. Rozan

Downloaded on my Nook . . .
              Sacred Treason          Until You
Sacred Treason by James Forrester; Until You by Sandra Marton
Downloaded on my Kindle iPad app . . .
Product DetailsProduct DetailsProduct Details
Meets Girl by Will Entrekin; Curricle & Chaise by Lizzie Church; Never Smile at Strangers by Jennifer Minar-Jaynes

 
Enjoy life with books...

Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

Sunday Post--Stacking the Shelves--My Weekly Book Recap was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without express written consent.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Saturday Shorts--Weekend Words

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"The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries."
--Rene Descartes, French Philosopher (1596-1650)

Read this and other Rene Descartes quotes online at Brainy Quote.


Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

Saturday Shorts--Weekend Words was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without express written consent.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Friday Focus--Happy Birthday, Mr. Bridwell

Photo Source: scholastic.com

Today is the 85th birthday of Norman Bridwell, born on February 15, 1928 in Kokomo, Indiana, and creator of the Clifford the Big Red Dog series of children's books.  Clifford, a beloved character associated with early childhood literacy,  is also the star of a popular series on public television, and has appeared in videos.

Photo Source:  pbskids.org


Mr. Bridwell has written more than 120 books, and adds new titles each year.  More information about the author's life and work is available online at Scholastic Books and from IMDb, the Internet Movie Database.

 A list of Bridwell's books is available here.

   Clifford the Big Red Dog   Clifford's Class Trip (Clifford, the Big Red Dog Series)   Clifford Goes To Dog School   Clifford's Birthday Party (50th Anniversary Edition)     



Enjoy life with books.

Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

Friday Focus--Happy Birthday, Mr. Bridwell was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without express written consent.
 

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Valentine's Day

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 Happy Valentine's Day!

My suggestion for Valentine's Day reading is a trilogy of books by best-selling author Adriana Trigiani, and named for main character, Valentine Roncalli.  This entertaining saga, set in New York City's Greenwich Village and in Italy, follows the tribulations and triumphs of young Valentine as she takes control of her family's struggling wedding shoe business in an effort to save it from extinction.  Romance and family shenanigans keep readers delightfully engaged from start to end.  I am eagerly awaiting the final book in the series, Ciao, Valentine, which will be published in August 2013.

The Valentine Trilogy . . . so far
                             Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani: Book Cover        Brava, Valentine by Adriana Trigiani: Book Cover            
If you read in the evening, I recommend a nice glass of Italian red wine and a box of chocolates to enhance your reading experience.

Enjoy life with books . . .and other pleasures.

Red roses in a row


Catherine

Follow me on Twitter: @bookclubreader

Valentine's Day was originally published by Catherine for bookclublibrarian.com. This post cannot be republished without express written consent.