Confluence of Crafts and Reading!

Penguin classics commissioned artist Jillian Tamaki to make three gorgeous embroidered covers for their Fall 2011 collection.  These are breathtaking!  I think my favorite one is the cover for The Secret Garden but they are all composed so intricately and beautifully.

All of the backs are also embroidered and each feature a little quote from the book.

I don't own any of these great titles so I may have to go out and purchase these beauties come fall!  To see Ms. Tamaki's process of creating the covers, check out her blog here.

Sarah Addison Allen Books

She's the queen of guilty pleasure books with a southern twist!  All of her books have a bit of whimsy or, um, magic.  Whether it be apple trees that tell your fortune, visits from ghosts, or mysteriously changing wallpaper...there's always a mystical element to Ms. Allen's novels.

This is not your typical chick-lit fare...she's wonderful at creating vibrant Southern landscapes with strong female characters and a bit of mysticism.  If I were to make a comparison it would be to the wonderful book (and movie) Practical Magic...SAA books are along the same lines.  My ultimate favorite is Garden Spells and from there it's a tie between The Sugar Queen and The Girl Who Chased the Moon.  I've read all of her books (great beach reads) and each are a delight!

Bookish Donation for Japan

It's so great to see all of the wonderful ways in which people can donate to benefit Japanese relief efforts.  Seeing all of the devastation and destruction is almost too much to bear.  When researching different means of donating I came across this awesome website called Writers for the Red Cross.  For every $25 donation, you receive a free book!  Thanks to the generosity of some really great authors...there a bunch of wonderful books to choose from.  If I didn't already own The Likeness I would pick that as my freebie (as I loved the author's previous book).

Lot's of folks really like Madame Tussaud so I may pick that book or perhaps I'll choose Revolution or I can donate $50 and get both!

What a great way to contribute to the cause...get on it peeps!

Latest Read: The Ask and the Answer

Wow...again.  The second book in the Chaos Walking Trilogy surprised me in a completely wonderful way.

Instead of maintaining the same level of depth as The Knife of Never Letting Go Patrick Ness delves further into the meaty themes of this story.  The Ask and the Answer is definitely a more complex novel than the first and tensions and twists abound.

As usual...no spoilers so I can't talk plot.  I can say that it's almost torturous to watch beloved characters get manipulated by the whims of others.  The reader wonders along with the characters who Todd and his friends can trust.  This book alternates between Todd's perspective and another character's (if you've read the first book you'll know who it is).  The dual perspective really assists the story in attaining some serious tension and revealing the gruesomeness of war.  Yet again, Ness ends the book with a cliffhanger; however, due to the dark and intense nature of The Ask and the Answer, I think that I'm going to soak it in a bit before moving on to the conclusion of the series.  I highly recommend this trilogy to all readers!

5/5 stars.

Lit Booty from the Library

Yesterday some gal pals and I got some delicious coffee from the local Soma cafe and then popped across the street to the Library where they were having a HUGE book sale.  Hardcovers were 50 cents and paperbacks were 25 cents...what a deal!  I scored three awesome books for only $1:

She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb...I've heard so many great things about this book!

A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell...loved her novel The Sparrow so I thought I'd check this out too!

And lastly, The Birth of Venus by the bestselling author Sarah Dunant

We also got a little backstage tour from one of the friendly librarians.  She showed us the bookstore where they sell novels, magazines and videos on the cheap three times a week.  I will definitely be checking out that lil' "Friends of the Library" bookstore on a regular basis from now on!

I Must Have a Thing for Men with Beards...

Happy Friday folks!  I just wanted to share the hubs and my newest obsession...Mr. Reggie Watts!  Perhaps you've seen him on Conan?  If not, you should definitely check out these video snippets of the master beat-boxer/comedian/imitator:

Punch 'em in the face song:

Big Ass Purse:


A mini interview and pancake song:


...by the way, most of his material is completely improvised - amazing.

Other clips I recommend: Conan's show during X-mas time (Kwanzaa juice song) and "Cultural song"

Latest Read: The Knife of Never Letting Go

Wow.
This is such a great book and unique concept for a story...

What a cliffhanger ending...jeebus!  I don't think I can avoid reading this whole series ASAP.

Summary from Booklist:
Chased by a madman preacher and possibly the rest of his townsfolk as well, young Todd Hewitt flees his settlement on a planet where war with the natives has killed all the women and infected the men with a germ that broadcasts their thoughts aloud for all to hear. This cacophanous thought-cloud is known as Noise and is rendered with startling effectiveness on the page. The first of many secrets is revealed when Todd discovers an unsettling hole in the Noise, and quickly realizes that he lives in a much different world than the one he thought he did. Some of the central conceits of the drama can be hard to swallow, but the pure inventiveness and excitement of the telling more than make up for it. Narrated in a sort of pidgin English with crack dramatic and comic timing by Todd and featuring one of the finest talking-dog characters anywhere, this troubling, unforgettable opener to the Chaos Walking trilogy is a penetrating look at the ways in which we reveal ourselves to one another, and what it takes to be a man in a society gone horribly wrong. The cliffhanger ending is as effective as a shot to the gut.

I've heard so many great things about this series (and the premise was so intriguing) that when trying to decide what to read next, this was the first book that popped into my mind.  The story is told from Todd's perspective and in his own voice - which is one of my favorite things about the book.  Todd is an incredibly endearing character and has such a colorful way of describing his world and the Noise.

You will feel deeply for Todd and his companions as they embark on this hair-raising adventure.  It'll make you laugh, raise your eyebrows, and if you don't get a little misty-eyed at least once...you may want to get your tear ducts checked out.  There are some great themes in this novel: hold onto hope in impossible situations, that prejudice is dangerous and can be used as a weapon, and that communication goes beyond what you can hear.  That's really all I want to say because I don't want to spoil any of the plot...it's best that readers discover things as Todd discovers them.  Oh, but please read this book - and then read the rest of The Chaos Walking Trilogy (as I plan to do).

**Sidenote: while this is a YA novel, be advised that - no matter the reading level of your youngin' - it should probably only be recommended to mature teens and up.  There is quite a bit of graphic violence and a smidgen of language (mostly Todd saying "effing" but the actual "f-word" does make an appearance along with a few other swears).

5/5 stars.

Latest Read: The Wise Man's Fear

I finally finished the chunkster The Wise Man's Fear and discovered that I could actually fall more in love with this story than I already had with the first novel.

It's amazing how much Rothfuss' books completely transport you into the world he's created.  These novels truly hold a little universe within their pages.  I sighed heavily when I saw that only 100 pages remained to be read...I didn't want my time with these characters and this world to end.

One of the aspects I love most about Rothfuss' books (and seems more pronounced in The Wise Man's Fear) is the stories-within-a-story.  There is much more tale-telling in the second book of The Kingkiller Chronicle and all of the stories were just delightful (my favorite is the one about the boy with the gold screw in his bellybutton).  I also loved that you got to explore more of the realm in Kvothe's world.  Rothfuss takes his hero to exciting and sometimes surprising new places and the reader finally gets to discover some more of the dramatic events behind the legendary tales of Kvothe.

This book also made me feel even sorrier for the elder Kvothe who seems to have lost his way.  I wonder how the last installment of this series can possibly explain all that must have transpired to lead him to become the innkeeper called Kote.  How does Bast come into Kvothe's life?  The shadow of war and unexplained evil looms over the story...what's going to happen??  So many questions to answer in the last book...I can't wait to read it!

Despite having technically already written the full Kingkiller Chronicle, I have a feeling it may take several years (as it did between The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear) for this last book to be released.  Although patience is one of the virtues I lack, I will gladly wait any number of years to see how Rothfuss will end Kvothe's story.  I can't recommend these books enough.  Seriously, go out and read them now!

5/5 stars

Judging a Book by its Cover: The Classics

Much hubbub has been made about the redesigned covers for several classic novels that seem to draw inspiration from the Twilight cover designs.

Pros:

• May encourage young people to read the classics

Cons:

• Misleading...these works are not imitations of Stephanie Meyers
• Shudder-inducing for some
• Insulting to teen readers...they'll only be enticed if it looks Twilight-esque??

My thoughts are that if it brings more readers to these wonderful books then it's worth it.  Something that I'm not so keen on are the extras included in these editions.  In Pride and Prejudice some of the extras are: "Quiz: Which Pride and Prejudice Girl Are You?" and "What If Darcy and Elizabeth Lived Now and Were on Facebook?" Ugh.

Latest Read: Skeletons at the Feast

While WWII is not a very new subject in fiction, the author sheds light on a relatively untold segment of persons affected by the war.  The story mainly follows the prosperous Emmerich family, a clan of Prussians who are largely ignorant to the atrocities being committed by their German army and society.  They decide to evacuate their farm in order to escape capture by the Russians in the last months of WWII.  The book follows their difficult journey and complex relationships with a Scottish POW, a Jewish man posing as an SS officer, and many others that they encounter.

The book is a bit difficult to get into at first because it flipped back and forth between three different storylines.  Yet, once the characters and stories became familiar, the novel was both engrossing and heartbreaking.  I really liked this book...it might be one of my favorites of the year.  I'm definitely going to be adding more of Mr. Bohjalian's novels to my TBR list.

This would be a really great historical fiction choice for a book club.  So many things to discuss: the historical aspects, the relationships between the characters, their secrets and deceptions, and their guilt and hope for the future.  If you are drawn to WWII books I really suggest picking up a copy of Skeletons at the Feast.

4/5 stars.

Weekend Bliss

Ahh...so it's currently sunny and in the upper 60s/low 70s, my favorite!  I can open the doors and let a fresh breeze through and anticipate the spring when listening to the songbirds sing in our backyard.

I had a wonderful ladies excursion with some friends down in Louisville.  We got beautified and then scarfed down some delicious grub at the BBC (a local brewery).  Of course, we had to bring back some souvenirs so I bought me and the hubs some brews for the tastin'.  Along with our newly acquired hops-filled booty, the hubs and I are currently enjoying the smells of a big ol' ham cooking in the oven that I plan on pairing with some green beans and mac and cheese...yum!

I'll be posting up a new review tomorrow and am currently reading the 900+ page tome The Wise Man's Fear...so far it's freakin' awesome.  Hopefully, I'll be posting a review on that sucker soonly.  Happy Sunday folks!

Latest Read: Fingersmith

This was my first foray into the lesbian Victoriana of Sarah Waters and I quite enjoyed it!

From Goodreads:

Growing up as a foster child among a family of thieves, orphan Sue Trinder hopes to pay back that kindness by playing a key role in a swindle scheme devised by their leader, Gentleman, who is planning to con a fortune out of the naive Maud Lily, but Sue's growing pity for their helpless victim could destroy the plot.

Twists and turns abound in this gothic novel!  Every time you think you have a grasp on the plot, the next chapter throws it on its head.  This compulsively readable story allows you to view the tale unfold from both the perspective of Sue and of Maud.  The book begins rather slowly at first but soon heats up as unknown plans and motivations are revealed.

I thought the novel was really good but I didn't love it as much as others do.  The plot surprises are fantastic...I think I actually gasped out loud a time or two.  Yet, I thought parts dragged a bit, especially in the beginning.  Despite a few slow moments at the start, I do recommend the novel.  If you like Victorian literature, strong female characters and a gripping story (and who doesn't?) then you will love this book!

3.5/5 stars.

Grammar Slut

I cannot express how much I love shopsaplingpress for creating this wondrous lil' letterpress card!

Hah...delicious!  I wish I could have sent this to all my undergraduate students when I was a TA  :)

March Madness

All of the NCAA fans out there are tingling with delight today because it marks the beginning of March Madness!  Meh, myself...I could really care less about college basketball (although I do loyally watch IU lose on a fairly regular basis).  What has caught my eye is The Morning News Tournament of Books which comes complete with brackets for people to predict the winning novels!  What an ingenious way to market some of the great books of the year!  Here's the matches that have occurred thus far (winners are in bold):

• Freedom by Jonathan Franzen vs. Kapitoil by Teddy Wayne
• Room by Emma Donoghue vs. Bad Marie by Marcy Dermansky
• Savages by Don Winslow vs. The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson
• A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan vs. Skippy Dies by Paul Murray
• Nox by Anne Carson vs. Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon
• Next by James Hynes vs. So Much for That by Lionel Shriver
• Super Sad True Love Story by James Hynes vs. Model Home by Lionel Shriver 
• The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender vs. Bloodroot by Amy Greene

Now onward to the Quarterfinals!  Last year's champion was Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel which narrowly beat out The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver.  How fun!  I'll definitely be keeping up with this tournament...any guesses as to which books will be in the championship round?

Another Random TBR Snapshot

So much to read...so little time...

Etsy Favs...A Smattering of Wonderfulness!

Here's a whole bunch of items I simply love to pieces from various shops on good ol' Etsy:

Just one example of geometric clothing awesomeness from jessalinb:

Beautimus clutch purses from jenniferladd:

Super-neato geometric leather earrings from BooAndBooFactory:

Curious little whimsical prints from thepoppytree:

Bright screenprinted clothing from maryink:

And lastly, some unique accessories from theifandbandit:

Review Catch-Up: The Clan of the Cave Bear and The Blue Castle

So, I've fallen a bit behind on my reviews as of late and since I blazed through books this past weekend I figure I should do a little two-for-one to catch up. 

First up, The Clan of the Cave Bear the first book in the Earth's Children series by Jean M. Auel:

Publisher summary:
Here is a novel of awesome beauty and power.  A moving saga about people, relationships and the boundaries of love.  Through Jean Auel's magnificent storytelling, we are taken back to the dawn of mankind and swept up in the wonderful world of a very special heroine, Ayla.  Her enthralling story is one we can all share.  A natural disaster has left young Ayla alone, wandering, fending for herself in an unfamiliar land.  One day, she is discovered by the Clan of the Cave Bear, men and women far different from her own people.  The tall, blonde, blue-eyed Ayla is a mysterious stranger to the Clan and at first they mistrust her and cast her out.  But as she grows to know them and learn the ways of the Clan, she is welcomed.  And as she leads them in their struggle for survival, the Clan comes to worship Ayla.  For in her blood flows the future of humanity.

The most interesting aspect of this book is the prehistoric setting.  The author obviously did an enormous amount of research as all of the actions and skills displayed by the characters are detailed and seemingly realistic for the times.  I liked it enough that I do still want to read the rest of the series as I became attached to the character of Ayla.  She is such a strong, well-drawn, appealing character and you can't help but want to find out what adventures come her way in the next installment.

I recommend this book to those who like historical fiction or are interested in the dawn of the human race and to those who have a particular fondness for charismatic heroines.

3.5/5 stars.

Secondly, I recently finished The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery (of Anne of Green Gables fame).

"Fear is the only original sin. Almost all of the evil in the world has its origin in the fact that someone was afraid of something."

This quote from her favorite author forever changes the life of the spinsterish Valancy, when one fateful day she decides to take charge of her own existence and defy the customs of her traditional small town and oppressive family.

Now, one has to remember that this was written back in the 1920s, so Valency's emancipative actions would have been quite scandalous.  While it may have been a unique plot-line at the time...it's now fairly obvious where the storyline is leading as the narrative unfolds.  That being said, the plot is so apparent that I was almost surprised when scenes manifest as expected.  It's a lovely and cozy little romance that includes beautiful imagery and reverence of the outdoors.  The main themes are facing one's fears, living in the moment, and not judging others based on appearances...impressive subjects for a slim novel, no?  If you love Ms. Montgomery's Anne series then you'll surely fall for this book as well.

3.5/5 stars.

Life Update...Vacation Hiatus

As of this weekend, I will no longer be cozy in my house with the spring rain falling softly outside (yes, I'm one of those strange people who loves the rain).  The hubs and I are going to the sunny 80-degree weather of Palm Springs, CA!  It's a bit of business (solar conference) mixed with pleasure and I am gleefully looking forward to getting a smidgen of sun on my pasty face.  So, this here blog will be on a little weekend hiatus until I get back (although weekend neglect of the blog is pretty much the norm); however, I hopefully will have devoured several books whilst traveling and have lots of reviews to share.  I'll leave you all with a postcard of my vacay spot that is sure to invoke envy....mwahaha!

Granted, this is a photo of a golf course, which I wouldn't be caught dead on, but pretty nonetheless, no?

Latest Read: The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle

What appears to be a children's book at first glance is most definitely for adults.  You might not believe me when you start perusing this book...but please, for the love of man, don't read this to children!  The ending is...well I really can't say anything about the ending now can I?  What I can reveal is that technically there are three endings.  So, I suppose you could read the book up to the first ending to a child - however, if you have curious children (and aren't most children curious?), I wouldn't tempt them to sneak a read at the rest by showing them the delightful first bit of the book.

Loved this hilarious horror book for adults!  Does this mean I am somewhat dark and twisted?  Mayhaps...or I might just like creepy old faerie stories.  Either way, the illustrations by Nate Taylor are delightful and add to the wicked wrongness of this book.  It is rather obvious that I'm a big admirer of Patrick Rothfuss, so I could not avoid sating my curiosity about this story.  I also discovered that some copies of the book (not mine, alas) come with a silver sticker featuring Mr. Whiffle's face (looking similar to the Newbery Award) - but surrounded by the text, "This s**t is not for children. Seriously." - Ha!

4/5 stars

Holy First Edition!!!

Holy crap!  I was catching up on all of my favorite blogs and read an entry that piqued my curiosity.  As evidenced by previous posts, I'm a huge fan of Patrick Rothfuss and subsequently subscribe to his blog.  His latest entry was answering the question "how do I know if I have a first edition?"  After reading his answer, I was delighted ecstatic in my discovery that I actually have a first edition of his latest novel The Wise Man's Fear!!

 
Yesssss!  I can't wait to read this book...but due to its heft (993 pages) I'm afraid to start it because I know I will put the rest of my life on hold until it's finished.  I also decided to buy Rothfuss' not-for-children illustrated book The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle: The Thing Beneath the Bed because apparently I'm mildly obsessed with the man's writing.  I will be posting my review of the latter book soonly (erm, probably tomorrow).

Having Fun With Book Club - The Year of Living Biblically

Happy Ash Wednesday folks!  The hubs and I made muffulettas for dinner last night in honor of Fat Tuesday...I wish we could have witnessed the debauchery going on in New Orleans instead!  Anyways, since it's a week filled with Christian holidays, I thought it'd be a perfect time to post about the Biblically-themed memoir read for our book club last week.

I had a great time at the latest Btown Booksters meeting.  Unfortunately, a bunch of our members had conflicting issues and couldn't come.  Christine chose the book The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs for us to read.  Despite dwindled numbers, we had a fantastic shindig complete with a Biblical meal of fish, chickpea salad and wine! 

Jacobs chronicles his life over the course of one year in which he tries to live as Biblically as possible.  As you can imagine, there are quite a few bumps and hilarious hiccups throughout his journey.  I was surprised at how respectful he was of all the various fundamental sects of Judaism and Christianity (i.e. Hasidic Jews, the Amish, Creationists, etc.).  I wrongly assumed that since he is an agnostic (and potentially jaded) New Yorker he would likely poke a bit more fun at the more extreme religions.  However, most of the humor comes from his difficulties in trying to adhere to Biblical laws.  

Overall, the group really liked this book.  We found it enlightening as it tells many of the stories written in the Bible and highlights various chapters (especially Leviticus and Ecclesiastes).  I would have preferred a longer section concerning the New Testament (as I am more familiar with it) but the others liked having a longer Old Testament component.  We all agreed that it was a bit redundant in the middle (as the Old Testament section was winding down) but picked back up soon after.  We also all identified with Jacobs' wife and her annoyance with his strict adherence to seemingly misogynistic Biblical rules.  Christine listened to the audiobook and the group thought that this might be the best way to experience this story, although you don't get to see the wonderful photos like this throughout:

Latest Read: In the Woods

Goodreads summary of In the Woods:
A 12-year-old girl is found murdered at an archaeological site at the center of a controversial highway construction project. Katy Devlin was a popular girl who had recently been accepted to the Royal Ballet School; her father is an outspoken opponent of the new roadway. But what haunts Detective Rob Ryan about this case is its location: the quiet town of Knocknaree, Ireland -- in the very woods where he used to play as a child.

Twenty years ago, a young Rob and his two best friends went into the woods, chasing each other, playing in a castle of ruins. But they didn't return to their homes at sunset. A search party was dispatched to canvas the woods, finding only a catatonic Rob clawing at a tree, his clothing ripped, his shoes filled with blood.

Detective Ryan has always guarded this secret of his past, but the recent murder forces him to reveal it to his new partner, drawing them closer together in the search for the perpetrator. Is there a connection between Rob's childhood trauma and Katy Devlin's murder? And is Detective Ryan prepared to confront the secrets that lie deep in those woods? Suspects abound in this fast-paced mystery -- a stunning debut that examines the complexities of the human mind and the cost of discovering the truth.

In this well-written and delightfully creepy psychological thriller, you realize from the opening of the prologue that this is not your typical police mystery:

"Picture a summer stolen whole from some coming-of-age film set in small-town 1950s.  This is none of Ireland’s subtle seasons mixed for a connoisseur’s palate, watercolor nuances within a pinch-sized range of cloud and soft rain; this is summer full-throated and extravagant in hot pure silkscreen blue."

I loved the depth of the main characters (and secondary too)!  Thankfully, the author didn't create too-good-to-be-true individuals...instead their flaws were shown as prominently as their virtues and you loved them all the more for it.  Rob and Cassie are wonderfully realistic and their banter is so much fun to read.  In fact, I became so attached I hoped that she might reuse the characters in subsequent novels...and thankfully, Cassie is resurrected in French's next book The Likeness.

The wooded setting also seemed to be a sinister character unto itself and got my heart thumping on more than one occasion.  The storyline was chilling, kept me guessing and, unfortunately for my vanity, had me chewing my nails down to nubs!

Overall, I highly recommend!  The themes and characters haunted me long after I finished the book...

4/5 stars.

March Movies

Here's some films that I'd love to see that are coming out this month.  I can already taste the popcorn and milk duds...

First up, "Cracks," which looks to be full of sinister plot twists and turns:


Then, "Peep World"...I love all of the actors involved in this movie:


Written and starring Josh Radnor (of "How I Met Your Mother" fame) "Happythankyoumoreplease" looks like a wonderfully uplifting little indie flick:


And lastly, "Dear Lemon Lima" which looks like a very endearing comedy:


All sorts of movie goodness to look forward to!

New Etsy Gear and Book Club Tonight!

I just received these beauties in the mail from LisasLovelies and promptly put them on!  I think they will be my new go-to earrings!

 

Also, tonight is the Btown Booksters meeting hosted by the lovely Christine...very excited to hang with the ladies!

Ahh Adele...

I just love her! Her voice has such a mature quality to it which makes it hard to imagine that she's only 22! Here's a song nugget for y'all from Adele's new album...it's simply amazing!

Random TBR Snapshot

Since I'm still trying to finish up the latest Btown Booksters read...I have no new reviews to give.  So I thought I'd share a little smidgen of my TBR list:
 

Yes, I do use Excel to keep track of my list and yes, I realize that that only amplifies my nerd-factor  :)

My TBR list is not in any particular order...and now that it has reached near-epic proportions I often forget why I wanted to read a certain book or who recommended it to me but I'm almost always pleasantly surprised.  How do you keep track of what you want to read?

My New Loot

Thanks to Half.com where you can get lightly used books for $3 and up (including shipping)!  I was able to score some awesome novels without buyers guilt.  Check out my newly acquired reading booty:

From top to bottom: The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel, To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis, Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian, Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees, and The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson.

Yay it's March!

Woot!  It's finally March which means spring is nearer and some books that I've been highly anticipating are now on the market!

First up, the sequel to the wonderful The Name of the Wind is finally here (I've seriously been counting the days on this one):

Also, I was introduced to the delightfully fun author Sarah Addison Allen through the Southern Literature Challenge and can't wait to read her newest novel The Peach Keeper:

Can't wait to snatch these suckers up!