I know, I know!! It's been awhile since I've shared my thoughts on books, life and such.
But! I return with an exciting evening of giving away FREE books in my community for World Book Night 2013! Tonight - April 23 - My family and friends are heading to a local food truck event - Tasty Tuesdays in the Milk District to give away 20 copies each of 2 beautifully and profound novels (but thankfully not give you a headache profound):
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer!
The goal is to not only support and enjoy delicious local food and brews but also meet people we can share a good story with and encourage reading amongst the adult population of this wonderful country!
(Check out the website for details about the WBN organization and sign-up to give in your community next year! www.us.worldbooknight.org)
I promise to return with a post about tonight's experience and more book reviews.
Keep reading and definitely check out the two books mentioned above - they will not disappoint, I guarantee it!
P.S. I also will bring some beer/wine reviews. But most of the IPA/Sour beers will be reviewed by my hubby and friends. IPA makes my face do something weird.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Monday, September 10, 2012
Frustration
Yes, I'm frustrated! Frustrated that I am not running a bookstore right now, frustrated at my current position (which I'm thankful for but feel stuck at), frustrated with all the politics swarming out there and frustrated over lack of acceptance for other people's opinions.
What does this have to do with books? Well, guess I'm frustrated that for all of those that keep asking about the bookstore are also those that can't wait to let me know what books they've downloaded on their iphones, kindles, nooks, etc. There's your answer. Yes, I'm being Frustrated Franny but it seems therapeutic to share:) And a resounding YES, that I have many friends and family who have always supported me and still support me in my efforts and I am thankful for them:)
But I also asked God for a clear answer on opening a bookstore and I feel he has given me an answer or at least a partial answer and although there is no answer yet to what to do now??, I'm learning to accept not owning a bookstore (at this exact moment) and looking to the future!
On a non-frustrated note, I've read some great books lately and will share those reviews soon (as well as some yummy beer and wine selections)! And I do have hope and believe the bookstore is still very much alive, but maybe just not for me, myself and I!
What does this have to do with books? Well, guess I'm frustrated that for all of those that keep asking about the bookstore are also those that can't wait to let me know what books they've downloaded on their iphones, kindles, nooks, etc. There's your answer. Yes, I'm being Frustrated Franny but it seems therapeutic to share:) And a resounding YES, that I have many friends and family who have always supported me and still support me in my efforts and I am thankful for them:)
But I also asked God for a clear answer on opening a bookstore and I feel he has given me an answer or at least a partial answer and although there is no answer yet to what to do now??, I'm learning to accept not owning a bookstore (at this exact moment) and looking to the future!
On a non-frustrated note, I've read some great books lately and will share those reviews soon (as well as some yummy beer and wine selections)! And I do have hope and believe the bookstore is still very much alive, but maybe just not for me, myself and I!
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Summer Reading - Psychotic to Sweet and back again
Sorry for the delay in posting. I've been in a non-writing mood:( But definitely been reading and have a few books I'd like to share! As the title of this post might suggest, the books I've read have taken me further into my mind than I'd like but have also lightened my heart.
My first-time with these authors:
You Don't Want to Know by Lisa Jackson - Lots of pages with intricately woven characters and storylines (past and present) but that's not the crazy part. The crazy comes in Jackson's talent for creating such vivid characters that the pages fly by and you realize that your rear is asleep and you should feed your family. Ava hasn't been the same since her son Noah was last seen - missing, kidnapped, dead?? Ava has to make her mind her own again or she'll never find out what really happened to Noah and want evil is lurking in, around and across the waters at Neptune's Gate.
Adam by Ted Dekker - I seeeeeee you. John 10:10 Believe!
(really looking forward to reading Forbidden by him and Tosca Lee for book club.)
Authors that fit like a cozy robe:
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - Nick meet Amy. Amy meet Nick. Get ready to be sucked into their world. A place of romance and youth; of failures and deceit. Each chapter brings you closer and further from the truth of love. (Sharp Objects and Dark Places are Flynn's other novels. I recommend all 3, but Sharp Objects is my favorite.)
Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews - Ah, Andrews is back with more sass and kick-ass! Annajane will make you laugh and gasp and Mason will make you feel sexy. Enjoy!
Currently reading:
The Fine Color of Rust by P.A. O'Reilly - I'm currently calling her the Joshilyn Jackson of Australia - spunk, laughter and the God's truth! (Thanks Atria books for the Galley Alley copy!!)
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
Set in the Australian bush, a wryly funny, beautifully observed novel about friendship, motherhood, love, and the importance of fighting for things that matter. Loretta Boskovic never dreamed she would end up a single mother with two kids in a dusty Australian country town. She never imagined she’d have to campaign to save the local primary school. She certainly had no idea her best friend would turn out to be the crusty old junk man. All in all, she’s starting to wonder if she took a wrong turn somewhere. If only she could drop the kids at the orphanage and start over . .
And thanks to RareBird Lit I'm reading a nonfiction book that I never thought I would and I am enthralled.
The Ascension of Jerry by Chip Jacobs
from the dust jacket:
Bumbling hitmen. Burning corpses. A threatened son. Life in hiding. Jerry Schneiderman’s orderly world evaporated when his business partner was executed by an assassin in 1979 Los Angeles, and the buzzard-eyed ringleader came for him. Though the killers behind the murder-for-hire corporation were nabbed, the trauma annihilated Jerry’s family and strip-mined his trust. Recovery only came years later with Jerry’s improbable rebirth as a prank-loving activist who defended the weak by milking his scars.
Up next!
Broken Harbor by Tana French - While she usually leaves me with unsatisfying endings, I keep coming back. As soon as I'm done with my current reads, I'll be heading back to Ireland to see what trouble "Scorcher" has gotten into this time. (French's other books (read in this order): In the Woods, The Likeness, and Faithful Place (my fave so far).)
Synopsis (from goodreads.com):
Mick "Scorcher" Kennedy, the brash cop from Tana French’s bestselling Faithful Place, plays by the book and plays hard. That’s what’s made him the Murder squad’s top detective—and that’s what puts the biggest case of the year into his hands.
On one of the half-built, half-abandoned "luxury" developments that litter Ireland, Patrick Spain and his two young children are dead. His wife, Jenny, is in intensive care.
Shine, Shine, Shine by Lydia Netzer - Our September book club read and I'm trying to hold off till then so I remember every detail. Friends and family have read and loved it. Looking forward to giggles and tears:)
Synopsis (from goodreads.com):
Sunny Mann has masterminded a life for herself and her family in a quiet Virginia town. Her house and her friends are picture-perfect. Even her genius husband, Maxon, has been trained to pass for normal. But when a fender bender on an average day sends her coiffed blonde wig sailing out the window, her secret is exposed. Not only is she bald, Sunny is nothing like the Stepford wife she’s trying to be. As her facade begins to unravel, we discover the singular world of Sunny, an everywoman searching for the perfect life, and Maxon, an astronaut on his way to colonize the moon.
My first-time with these authors:
You Don't Want to Know by Lisa Jackson - Lots of pages with intricately woven characters and storylines (past and present) but that's not the crazy part. The crazy comes in Jackson's talent for creating such vivid characters that the pages fly by and you realize that your rear is asleep and you should feed your family. Ava hasn't been the same since her son Noah was last seen - missing, kidnapped, dead?? Ava has to make her mind her own again or she'll never find out what really happened to Noah and want evil is lurking in, around and across the waters at Neptune's Gate.
Adam by Ted Dekker - I seeeeeee you. John 10:10 Believe!
(really looking forward to reading Forbidden by him and Tosca Lee for book club.)
Authors that fit like a cozy robe:
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - Nick meet Amy. Amy meet Nick. Get ready to be sucked into their world. A place of romance and youth; of failures and deceit. Each chapter brings you closer and further from the truth of love. (Sharp Objects and Dark Places are Flynn's other novels. I recommend all 3, but Sharp Objects is my favorite.)
Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews - Ah, Andrews is back with more sass and kick-ass! Annajane will make you laugh and gasp and Mason will make you feel sexy. Enjoy!
Currently reading:
The Fine Color of Rust by P.A. O'Reilly - I'm currently calling her the Joshilyn Jackson of Australia - spunk, laughter and the God's truth! (Thanks Atria books for the Galley Alley copy!!)
Synopsis from goodreads.com:
Set in the Australian bush, a wryly funny, beautifully observed novel about friendship, motherhood, love, and the importance of fighting for things that matter. Loretta Boskovic never dreamed she would end up a single mother with two kids in a dusty Australian country town. She never imagined she’d have to campaign to save the local primary school. She certainly had no idea her best friend would turn out to be the crusty old junk man. All in all, she’s starting to wonder if she took a wrong turn somewhere. If only she could drop the kids at the orphanage and start over . .
And thanks to RareBird Lit I'm reading a nonfiction book that I never thought I would and I am enthralled.
The Ascension of Jerry by Chip Jacobs
from the dust jacket:
Bumbling hitmen. Burning corpses. A threatened son. Life in hiding. Jerry Schneiderman’s orderly world evaporated when his business partner was executed by an assassin in 1979 Los Angeles, and the buzzard-eyed ringleader came for him. Though the killers behind the murder-for-hire corporation were nabbed, the trauma annihilated Jerry’s family and strip-mined his trust. Recovery only came years later with Jerry’s improbable rebirth as a prank-loving activist who defended the weak by milking his scars.
Up next!
Broken Harbor by Tana French - While she usually leaves me with unsatisfying endings, I keep coming back. As soon as I'm done with my current reads, I'll be heading back to Ireland to see what trouble "Scorcher" has gotten into this time. (French's other books (read in this order): In the Woods, The Likeness, and Faithful Place (my fave so far).)
Synopsis (from goodreads.com):
Mick "Scorcher" Kennedy, the brash cop from Tana French’s bestselling Faithful Place, plays by the book and plays hard. That’s what’s made him the Murder squad’s top detective—and that’s what puts the biggest case of the year into his hands.
On one of the half-built, half-abandoned "luxury" developments that litter Ireland, Patrick Spain and his two young children are dead. His wife, Jenny, is in intensive care.
Shine, Shine, Shine by Lydia Netzer - Our September book club read and I'm trying to hold off till then so I remember every detail. Friends and family have read and loved it. Looking forward to giggles and tears:)
Synopsis (from goodreads.com):
Sunny Mann has masterminded a life for herself and her family in a quiet Virginia town. Her house and her friends are picture-perfect. Even her genius husband, Maxon, has been trained to pass for normal. But when a fender bender on an average day sends her coiffed blonde wig sailing out the window, her secret is exposed. Not only is she bald, Sunny is nothing like the Stepford wife she’s trying to be. As her facade begins to unravel, we discover the singular world of Sunny, an everywoman searching for the perfect life, and Maxon, an astronaut on his way to colonize the moon.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Fun Younger Kids Titles for the Summer!
Thanks to Amulet Books for these advanced readers for kids:
Jinxed by Kurtis Scaletta
For young baseball fans! The adventures of the Pine City Porcupines! Fun chapter books to enjoy over the summer.
Fake Mustache by Tom Angleberger
Disguises and very short robbers, hmmmmm!!! Can Lenny stop Casper before it's too late? Get your laughter on for the summer!
These were read, recommended and enjoyed by some enthusiastic young book fans!!
From Scholastic Press (thanks!):
Capture the Flag by Kate Messner
On bookshelves beginning July 1! Just in time for Independence Day!
I read this one and loved it!! High adventure at the airport with plenty of hijinks! A piece of history could be destroyed, so Anna, Henry and Jose are on a mission to make sure that doesn't happen:) Will they figure out the mystery in time?
172 HOURS ON THE MOON by Johan Harstad
Read this book!
Interestingly informative, dark and addictive! Three lucky teenagers picked by a lottery to go on a mission back to the moon for a 172 hour stay in the name of research and publicity of course. Signs, warnings and an old-man's memory aren't heeded. What is this mission really about and can it be stopped before it's too late?
Friday, June 1, 2012
CONTEST! Signed Copy of The Beach Trees by Karen White
WINNER - DORITA BATES!!! THANKS TO ALL THAT ENTERED:)
I had the privilege to meet Karen White along with several other fine, southern women authors at the UCF Book Festival earlier this year. I have read and very much enjoyed Karen White's novels and while I have not read The Beach Trees (on the list), I have complete faith that the lucky winner of this contest will love this book! If southern writing and strong woman characters are your forte, I'd add Karen White to your list of authors to read!
I had the privilege to meet Karen White along with several other fine, southern women authors at the UCF Book Festival earlier this year. I have read and very much enjoyed Karen White's novels and while I have not read The Beach Trees (on the list), I have complete faith that the lucky winner of this contest will love this book! If southern writing and strong woman characters are your forte, I'd add Karen White to your list of authors to read!
***Three ways to be entered to win this signed book: 1. Leave a comment on this blog post 2. Leave a comment on Tales & Ales Books Facebook Page 3. Follow me on Twitter - @TalesAlesBks (accepted comments are : Hi! Hiya! Howdy! Whatchareading? How's the weather? Red or white wine? Milk or Dark Chocolate? and the like!) Contest ends at 11:00 a.m tomorrow morning, June 2, 2012.
From the back cover:
Julie
first knew loss at the age of twelve, when her younger sister
disappeared from a local park—never to be found. As her once close-knit
family grew apart, Julie’s mother obsessively searched for the girl, and
when her mother died, Julie took up the search. Even as she went on
with life, discovering a love for art that she attributed to her painter
grandfather, she never let go of the hope that she might find her
sister.
Then, working at an auction house in New York, Julie meets Monica Guidry—a struggling artist and single mother who reminds Julie so much of her sister that she can’t help feeling drawn to her, and even a bit protective. Monica paints a vivid picture of her southern family through stories, but never says why or how she lost contact with them. And she has another secret: a heart condition that will soon take her life.
Feeling as if she’s lost her sister a second time, Julie inherits from Monica an antique portrait—as well as custody of her young son. Taking him to Biloxi, Mississippi, to meet the family he’s never known, Julie discovers a connection of her own. The portrait, of an old Guidry relative, was done by her grandfather—and unlocks a surprising family history…
Then, working at an auction house in New York, Julie meets Monica Guidry—a struggling artist and single mother who reminds Julie so much of her sister that she can’t help feeling drawn to her, and even a bit protective. Monica paints a vivid picture of her southern family through stories, but never says why or how she lost contact with them. And she has another secret: a heart condition that will soon take her life.
Feeling as if she’s lost her sister a second time, Julie inherits from Monica an antique portrait—as well as custody of her young son. Taking him to Biloxi, Mississippi, to meet the family he’s never known, Julie discovers a connection of her own. The portrait, of an old Guidry relative, was done by her grandfather—and unlocks a surprising family history…
Quick Takes - Paris and Dark Places
Now, I'd normally not lump these two together but they are the next in my pile, so why not?
French Lessons by Ellen Sussman
This book has been out for a little less than a year and I received an advanced copy back in May 2011, thanks to Ballantine Books but it took me until a month ago to get to.
What would you do in Paris for the day? (I'd go to the Louvre again and of course drink more wine.)
Three Americans with varying reasons for being in France hire French tutors for varying reasons. Three short stories with some intertwining and one with intertwining of limbs;) My favorite part(s) of this book are that Sussman created fulfilling stories and characters with enough depth and heart that you didn't realize that they were short snip-its in these peoples lives.
A good read with a glass of wine, crusty bread and lit candle. I recommend the bath tub or hot tub if you've got one!
DARK PLACES by Gillian Flynn
The first Gillian Flynn novel I read was Sharp Objects about 3 or 4 years ago and I read during UCF football tailgating. To say I was shocked, is putting it lightly. But shocked and hooked in a good way.
Dark Places did the same. It sucked you in on page one and you were fighting with Libby the whole way. You wanted to believe in her and keep her from falling down in despair or self-destructing. The murders were horrible and no little girl should have to live through that. Her brother, Ben, is in jail, convicted of those murders and there are those who believe in his innocence all these years later. Libby is grown and her memorial fund money is running out. She resorts to selling memorabilia of her brothers and the murders. And when those that believe in Ben's innocence approach her offering money to get her to help prove he didn't commit the murders, she hesitatingly accepts. Libby might not like what she finds out though and her life is back in danger, even more than it was on that night when she was a little girl.
I'm looking forward to reading Flynn's third novel, Gone Girl, in bookstores beginning June 5. Awesome reads, but not for the faint of heart.
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