Sheila's Guests and Reviews

These are the childrens' and young adults' books I've read recently on that reading journey... Fun reads for a Saturday morning while rain drips outside. Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke: I'd been waiting to get this in paperback for a while. I love the series, just not quite enough to shell out for a hardback. And this was a very fitting conclusion--best yet in my estimation. My Sparkling Misfortune by Laura Lond: With an evil anti-hero narrating his fall from wickedness, this one's great fun and told in a really enjoyable voice. The Unwanted by Daniel Carter: Genetic engineering, faith, superheroes and the FBI combine delightfully. Looking forward to more in this series. The Royal Dragoneers by M.R. Mattias:  A well-crafted world with rich detail and vivid descriptions, interesting characters and an enjoyable storyline. Dawn of the Shadow by Peter Kelly:  Young adults trying to make their way in the modern world are suddenly faced with a very different hi...

Continuing to list those books I've been reading recently, here's some scary ones for when that rain turns to howling winds tonight... As usual, if you click on the links you'll find my reviews on gather. Friday the Thirteenth , by M. Flagg:  Humanity's more dangerous than the jungle, so she chose Manhatten; a fun little scary romance. The Poison of a Smile, Salazar book 1 , by Steven Jensen: Beautiful evocative language. Lovely old-fashioned feel of Bohemian decadence. Gruesome, haunting, sad... The Eyes Have it , by Denise Bartlett: An intriguing lunch-time read with a green-eyed sting in its tail. Vow of Superstition: Dragon's Blood , by Skhye Moncrief: A fascinating world, with dragons, and a drink of dragon's blood to seal a young woman's fate. Witches, Werewolves and Jack the Ripper , by G.M. Jackson: a cool scary story that looks at the Jack the Ripper story from some very interesting points of view. Wonder , an erotic anthology edited by...

It seems like a while since I posted a list of reviews. I think I must have been distracted by something. I think I'm still distracted--runs round the room. And no, the housework's not getting done; at least, not just now. But the contract's been sent and I really need to get down to reading and writing. So, what have I read recently on that reading journe y? Too many books to list I think, so I'll put the mysteries and cozies here first and write another post with some more... As usual, if you click on the links you'll find my longer book reviews on gather. Murder in Winnebago County , and Buried in Wolf Lake , by Christine Husom: Two murder mysteries set around the very likeable and believable Sgt. Corky Aleckson, with a very authentic feel, down-to-earth characters, and villains that are scarily real. A Miracle at Speedy Motors : The 9th Number One Ladies' Detective Agency novel by Alexander McCall Smith, and I'm still addicted. I love the way he ...

We had plans to go away this weekend. All that sunshine--we just had to make use of it. Then the forecast said rain. So here we sit, the bags still packed away in a cupboard. I guess we're going nowhere unless in dreams--still, rain's good for reading and for dreaming, right? And here's my list of books I've read as that reading journey continues... just click on the links to find my reviews on gather . To Account for Murder by William C. Whitbeck :  Another great book from the Permanent Press. Like so many of their books, this one spans genres well beyond the obvious courtroom drama, and delves deep into questions of love and responsibility. It's not in the stores yet--I got lucky; they sent me a preview copy, and I loved it. The Native Star by M.K. Hobson : A fascinating alternate history tale of 1800s America plus magic. I love the way science, religion and magic were all at odds and yet all compatible. A Dozen Dreadfuls by Charlotte Holley : I was luc...

It must be time for another list of books from my reading journey , so here goes... As usual, click on the links for my Gather reviews. I've certainly enjoyed my reading time this week. And if you want to know more of my writing journey , just click on the link to visit my "Refracted" blog: I'm blogging this week there about how I learned to write. God and Dog --the most amazingly simple, fun and uplifting tale of unconditional love for dog-lovers everywhere, and don't forget to visit the video too; there's a link on my review. Underground and Vanished --the next two in Kat Richardson's Graywalker series. I think I'm hooked. Great female protagonist. Nicely imagined paranormal world firmly anchored in the real, and fun tours of historical London and Seattle underground. The Poet --next on my list of Michael Connelly books--yes, I know, I'm way behind. I really enjoyed this one and have just started reading the Narrows, which might be calle...

I read a book yesterday morning, and half a book in the afternoon, while the guys were watching soccer on TV. But I haven't written reviews of them yet, so I'm not sure they really count towards that reading journey . Still, I have posted a few more reviews on gather since my last "reading journey" blogpost. Thinking in Pictures , by Temple Grandin had me thinking about how I think, and how we communicate. I came to the conclusion that I might think in pictures sometimes - e.g. when playing that "memory" game that I used to be so good at when the kids were little. I even wondered if that's the reason I always get confused by the words left and right. The book was fascinating - a memoir, a description of a completely different way of thinking, an interesting study in treatment methods and options, and a conversation with a stranger whose voice is well worth listening to. Next is Winter Queen by Aubrie Dionne, the first of four short books, and a really ...

I'm still continuing that reading journey , though the reading seemed to slow down last week. Only four reviews posted on gather since my last review post here... ...but I have got three more books on Lulu, so at least I know what my next blogpost will be about... Copper and Candles was an enjoyable romance, read while the guys watched soccer. (I stop reading for goals, but my teams aren't doing too well...) Set in Detroit in the late 1800s it gave me a glimpse into a time and place that's definitely unfamiliar, and left me thinking people in America's past are not so different from those in England's. Small Favor and Turn Coat are the next two Harry Dresden novels by Jim Butcher, and I'm eagerly awaiting the release of the next book in paperback. Of course, I may have to wait a while. I really admire how the author creates complete and satisfying stories while continuing to advance the overarching storyline. I like the good guys with all their imperfections,...

I've just posted my fourth review of a book about to be released by The Permanent Press . I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion, based on these and others that I read a while ago, that I like all their books. I like their cockeyed pessimist blog too... Anyway, the latest two books are Pretend All Your Life , by Joseph Mackin, and Drake's Bay by T. A. Roberts. Drake's Bay is a fascinating mystery. It's easy to see why the author's already had two books become Edgar Award finalists. He knows how to craft a fine mystery, and a fine sea-sailing craft. There's a brilliant sea-chase to look forward to as the book progresses from houseboat life to crumbling mansion with historical books to murder, mayhem and Amsterdam. And the hero, a quiet history professor with a young, less than quiet girlfriend, slowly unravels clues with their roots touching Elizabethan times and a father's gentle detachment in days just gone by. Click here for my gather review of Drake...

I'm still Taking that Reading Journey , and I found a way to work out how many points I've made each month. Current totals... Jan 168, Feb 208, March 17. I've just posted some more book reviews too Incendiary by Chris Cleave - an amazing tale of large events writ small in the life of a London woman. (I wrote a review of Chris Cleave's Little Bee last week. I'm hooked. He's a really great writer!) Passing Fancies by A. F. Stewart, a very enjoyable collection of short stories and drabbles, perfect for keeping on the desktop of your computer (or by your coffee mug, though you may prefer not to eat jammy dodgers while reading some of them). Thunder and Blood , by Stacey Voss, who hopes to give birth to both the sequel and a new baby sometime soon. a theory of all things , by Peggy Leon: Okay, I posted this review earlier, but the book's just come out, so you might want to give it a look. Seriously, it's one of the best books I've read recently, by an ...

A week with no post? Now that would be interesting - no ads to throw away, no bills to pay, no forms to fill... But a week with no blogposts? I have to stop a moment and wonder what on earth I've been doing all week. Reading, I guess: I did put some more book reviews on gather . And writing. And rewriting. And housework, and pulling weeds (ah, that's the trouble with the weather getting nice). Remember that February Wrimo challenge our local writers' group was doing? Well, February's almost done, so I guess I have to confess I didn't succeed in my self-assigned task to write the third of my Hemlock books. In fact, a lot of last week was spent splitting up what I'd written to make two separate books. Somehow the events I'd planned for Hemlock 4 were appearing in Hemlock 3 and they really didn't fit. They prefigured entirely the wrong conclusion, resulting in a serious case of writers' block. So now I have two novels half-written in the month instea...

I'm still reading, still writing book reviews, still taking that journey . And I read the most amazing book this week - a bound galley, not even published yet, from The Permanent Press . It's called a theory of all things , and I was hooked from the second page. The first page is emails to and from a young man called Mark. The reader learns he's done something a little out of the ordinary, perhaps embarrassing, but doesn't know what. Then on the second page Mark narrates his own tale. Having been a fairly serious mathematician myself back in the day, I feel like I know him. He's that genius in college who found everything so easy and just had to explain it all, the one who related everything to mathematical theory then wondered why the rest of us seem uninvolved in his great imagining. He's real; he's cute; he's intriguing; and he drives you up the wall. Marks misadventures had me laughing out loud, his misunderstandings had me cringing for remembered em...

I posted lots of book reviews this week, not all related to the Take the Journey Reading Challenge . I realized I must have got a long way behind when I saw my review for one book claimed I was going to wait till after Christmas to read the next in the series. Now, when was Christmas? Ah well. I did find time to read a bit too, besides posting reviews. Mary DeMuth's Thin Places was a beautiful read, and one that I actually reviewed at about the right time, since it's only just come out. A very different book was Sarah Waters' The Night Watch which I borrowed from a friend. It brought World War II London very vividly to life, and introduced me to some fascinating characters. I was intrigued by the way the story goes backwards in time, rather like the way we meet people and learn later about their pasts; and by the way ones assumptions don't always prove true. And in a lighter, or darker vein (depending on your point of view), was Greywalker , by Kat Richardson, which m...

The Take the Journey reading challenge continues, and I've added extra points by visiting blogs of other readers, but I'm still only in the 100 club, with not much chance of reaching 200 by February. I found lots of good recommendations of books to add to my to-read list, but I already have more than plenty books waiting on my shelves. I received an amazing book from the Permanent Press a few months ago which I've reviewed on my gather page . It comes out next month, and I highly recommend it. The Chester Chronicles by Kermit Moyer is one of those rare books that I really didn't want to put down - I found myself beginning to reread it as soon as I got to the end. It's not short stories, but every chapter's a complete, beautifully crafted and very satisfying story in itself. It's not a memoir, but the tales bring the 50's and 60's to vivid life. Army brat, Chet Patterson grows up to be a young man through the pages, so maybe it's a coming of ...

I'm still reading new books and writing new reviews and racking up points, but I do seem to be way way behind the other Between the Lines challengers. Still, maybe I'll get my 100-point badge before the end of the month. I've posted some more book reviews on gather , and not got around to posting any elsewhere yet. (Searches desk for that round tuit.) The Vampire's Curse , by Cristiophe McFarland On Basilisk Station , by David Weber Living Dead in Dallas , and Club Dead by Charlaine Harris And I've several more books that I'm reading and plan to review. As for the writing though - is it the weather? the housework? the sudden growth of early weeds in the yard? (Can you tell what I spend yesterday doing?) I think I need a writing challenge to get me back to my novels, but maybe the trick is to remember to challenge myself. Still, I have written some drabbles

Remember that dream of mine, that I might one day, maybe, get organized? I bought Snowflake Pro when it was first released (got a super super price deal) to organize my writing. Meanwhile I'm still looking for ways to organize submissions, life, the universe etc. And I've joined the Between the Lines Reading Challenge for 2010 , to give me a nice set of guidelines for tracking my reading. Today I posted my first book review of the year: The Shaman's Bones, by James D. Doss . I've decided to make my Gather page my primary book review site, but I'll spread reviews around the other sites later (when my beloved "round tuit" gets into the action). I'm supposed to read 40 books by authors I've not read before, so this is number 1. 20 books by favorites--I expect I'll manage that. 3 or more new genres might be challenging; I'm wondering if I can claim a single-volume paperback novella as a genre, since that's what I'm reading at the mome...