All About {n}

Friday

Men and Dogs by Katie Crouch

Author: Katie Crouch

Audio CD's: 7

Genre: Fiction

When Hannah Legare was 11 years old, her beloved father leaves on a fishing trip early one morning and is never heard from again. Buzz Legare was everything to Hannah and his disappearance/drowning is the one event that defines the rest of her life. Hannah's mother and brother, Palmer, were able to move on - but Hannah has always held on to the hope of one day finding him once again, especially since his body was never found.

Now, at 35, Hannah lives in San Francisco, as far away from Charleston Harbor and her family as she can get, the business that she and her husband, Jon, own is on the brink of bankruptcy and after some crazy stalker-like antics on her part, her husband not only advises that he's leaving her, but that he's also sending her to her mother's for some time to recuperate... physically and mentally. While back in her hometown she gets the crazy idea that now is the perfect time to further investigate her father's death and hopefully get some real answers this time around.

Men and Dogs is told not only through Hannah's eyes, but also through Palmer's, Hannah's older brother. Through them you learn of their father's death/disappearance and how it affected not only each of them, but their family and even the community. Through them you also meet a slew of characters - who were all quirky and special in their own way. Hannah's mother, Daisy, who although she's married to the wealthiest man in town, still shops at thrift stores. DeWitt - the stepfather, who was one of these loud and boisterous characters. Every time he walked onto a page I couldn't help but smile at his nicknames for Hannah. There was Virginia, Hannah's old school teacher and the mother to her first boyfriend (the one she literally ran away from). Through Palmer you also learn of his sexuality (he's gay) and how that is affected by small-town life. Tom, his partner wants to adopt a baby and Palmer is too comfortable with his life to have the want for children and the complications they bring.

I enjoy character driven novels and this story is exactly that. The differences between Hannah and Palmer and how they were both affected by their father's death is the main focus. Hannah is loud and in-your-face not to mention she is stalking everyone for answers while Palmer is stoic and holds everything inside himself. And although she is the only one who speaks of their father and his death/disappearance on a constant basis - she is not the only one who has not been able to forget and/or get over the event.

I enjoyed hearing Gabra Zackman's voice since my version was an audiobook - I found her voice soothing and I think she did a great job with intonation and accents to differentiate the many characters. This is the perfect read to grab on your way out to the beach or pool. It is a fast-paced story with plenty of quirky characters and a witty sense of humor.

My Rating:

Thursday

Dracula in Love by Karen Essex

Title: Dracula in Love
Author: Karen Essex
Pages: 384
Genre: Paranormal/ Historical Fiction
Source: Doubleday

From the shadowy banks of the River Thames to the wild and windswept coast of Yorkshire, the quintessential Victorian virgin Mina Murray vividly recounts in the pages of her private diary the intimate details of what transpired between her and Count Dracula—the joys and terrors of a passionate affair and her rebellion against a force of evil that has pursued her through time.

Mina’s version of this timeless gothic vampire tale is a visceral journey into the dimly lit bedrooms, mist-filled cemeteries, and locked asylum chambers where she led a secret life, far from the chaste and polite lifestyle the defenders of her purity, and even her fiancé, Jonathan Harker, expected of her.

Bram Stoker’s classic novel was only one side of the story. Now, for the first time, Dracula’s eternal muse reveals all. What she has to say is more sensual, more devious, and more enthralling than ever imagined. The result is a scintillating gothic novel that reinvents the tragic heroine Mina as a modern woman tortured by desire. [via GoodReads]

First things first, I must confess that I have never read Bram Stoker's Dracula, nor have I seen the movie. You must also know that I only know very little of who Mina Murray is. I know she and Dracula have always been linked together but as to the nature of their relationship - that was a mystery to me... "was" being the key word since this book did clarify that.

Told through Mina's perspective, we learn of the dark stranger who has been a key figure in many of her dreams since childhood. We also get glimpses into Mina's upbringing and lifestyle now as a woman. Throughout the story you meet various characters - that while I'm not familiar with, I have come to learn that they are well-known within the classic vampire lore - Jonathan Harker, journalist Kate Reed, Lucy Westenra and even Dr. Seward and the infamous Dr. Von Helsinger who run a creepy asylum together. Count Vladimir Drakulya (a/k/a Dracula) is not as present as I would have liked. He does create great ambiance for the story though. He is a figure that although not physically present for much of the story, he is crucial to it and much of what shapes Mina's thoughts. If you've read Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian, you'll be able to relate.

Some things you may or may not know about this book - Ms. Essex does a great job of describing the relationship between Mina and Dracula, you really get a grasp for the appeal she holds over him. Not to mention you can tell she did her homework with her details to the time frame the story is set in. Notwithstanding its Victorian setting, and although she does abide by the restraints woman had to adhere to at the time, Mina is a strong-willed woman, she's passionate and brave. I really liked that she was not fragile and delicate as some related stories may lead you to believe... a wilting flower, if you may. She stood her ground when it came to her beliefs. The more (ahem) sexual scenes were graphic and well ... on the passionate side (if you catch my drift). The scenes in the asylum were downright horrifying and even nightmare inducing. It's not that great of an idea to read this late into the night or while home alone. If you're like me you'll be scared out of your wits by anything that goes bump in the night.

I did have a few complaints though - I thought the first half of the book would never end. It dragged for me for a few hundred pages - luckily I did stick it out and it eventually picked up. I thought there were a lot of filler pages and even whole areas that could have just been edited out (that whole near-rape scene at the beginning - what was that about?) The parts that really kept me interested revolved around the asylum scenes - and I was mostly terrified reading these.

All in all, this will definitely appeal to historical fiction fans as well as to those who love classic Dracula lore... It is fast- paced (once you are half-way through), with many a twist and turn. Sadly, for me it just didn't work - and I'm truly saddened to say that because I really wanted to like it.

My Rating:

Wednesday

The Secrety Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green

Title: The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball
Author: Risa Green
Pages: 320
Genre: YA/Teen
Source: Around the World Tours

In a world where nothing is certain, a little magic couldn't hurt...right?

When Erin Channing's favorite aunt dies, Erin is bequeathed a pink crystal ball and a set of weird instructions. Granted, Aunt Kiki (aka Aunt Kooky) always lived "outside the box." But now Erin and her two best friends are convinced that the pink crystal ball holds the key to their future-or at least the key to getting dates...

Consider Your Fate to Be Sealed . . .
- Absolute knowledge is not unlimited; let the planets be your guide to the number.
- There are sixteen ways to die, but four of them you will never see.
- The future belongs to you alone. Other voices will be disappointed.
-One rotation is as far as you can see. Only uncertainty lies beyond. [via GoodReads]

I enjoyed reading about Erin's perfectly boring life going up in smokes. She was a great character - a studious and good student, has the highest GPA in her class, she has two BFF's that she is extremely tight with (Samantha and Lindsay), she doesn't have any drama going on in her life - so when the opportunity arises for five students to take a trip to Italy with their professor, she worries that her boring life will not inspire one of the winning essays that will win her her passage to Italy.

Then her favorite aunt Kiki passes away leaving her a pink crystal ball and Erin and her friends find themselves wishing on it. Mayhem ensues as their wishes become true with unexpected consequences.

While Erin and her BFF's deal with all sorts of issues from grades, teen romance, parents and even school bullies they find themselves in some crazy fun scenarios. Chuckle inducing and a very feel good read - this is a super cute story to be enjoyed by teens and tweens alike. There is no cussing and only some PG-rated kissing. A very sweet story of friendship and living life to the fullest. A treat to read.

My Rating:

Tuesday

Bookcase of the Week - Starring... Rachel from Parajunkee's View

In today's Bookcase of the Week feature, I bring you Rachel (a/k/a Parajunkee), our favorite New Orlean and one of the most popular chicks I've seen around the book blogosphere. See every time I'm visiting a new blog or something catches my eye about a layout or template, I always check to see who the designer is... and well, it's usually Rachel. But not only does she create great layouts, she also reviews an assortment of books on her blog Parajunkee's View, she runs another blog titled Anya's Room which is geared towards younger readers and then, of course, there's her design blog Parajunkee Design and she's got a day job too. phew

Lucky for us, and my harassing e-mail, begging her to play with us, she gracefully agreed to give us a little tour of her shelves. I don't know why (maybe it's her layouts), but I knew her pictures would be bright and colorful and oh-so eye-appealing. I was not disappointed. Check it out for yourselves:

This is the more intense TBR that I have...
the one that I should read first.

This is my TBR, recent reads and overflow shelf.

This is where I blog. My butt is usually planted in front of those screens day in and day out. The computers are a 27" iMac and and old MacBook.

And then the BIG BLUE BALL.
This was my Katrina temporary bed (we had to keep on replacing the blow up mattresses when the cats jumped on them) and has turned into my reading nook. If I'm not in my real bed or the tub.

Thanks so much Rachel for sharing your shelves and favorite book reading and blogging accessories with us. I love the colors in your home and I must say that you've inspired me to get my own Big Blue Ball... well, I'll settle for any color (it doesn't have to be blue) but I do love that it looks so comfy. I want one!!!

For those of you who haven't passed on through to Rachel's yet, please visit her here (tell her I say HI!)

Monday

Manic Monday Recaps (Week 9/06/10)

Happy Labor Day friends. I hope you are all enjoying this long and preferably relaxing weekend. I know I am. I haven't gotten much reading done in the past couple of weeks. I think I'm in a reading funk!! I hate when that happens.. ugh

Here's what I plan on reading this week:

Last week I read the following:

- Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

- The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green

- Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

I reviewed the following:

- Vanishing and Other Stories by Deborah Willis [review]

- She's Gone Country by Jane Porter [review / giveaway]

- Crank by Ellen Hopkins [review]

- Seven Tears Into the Sea by Terri Farley [review]

- For Keeps by Natasha Friend [review]

I have a couple of upcoming events that I'm looking forward to. Lane Smith the author of It's a Book will be at Books and Books (my fave indie bookstore) on Saturday. I'm really looking forward to meeting him. This month they will also have signings for Jenny McCarthy and Nicholas Sparks. I haven't decided on whether to go see Jenny yet but I will definitely make a line to meet Mr. Sparks.

I plan on picking winners for outstanding giveaways this afternoon and maybe finally get around to posting all the one's that I haven't done for about a month now. So stay tuned for that. You can see what I got in my mailbox last week here. I also have a new Bookcase of the Week scheduled for tomorrow so get excited because it'll be Rachel from Parajunkee's View.

Happy Reading!