tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-305051952024-03-12T23:18:40.400-04:00Confessions of a Book JunkieMusings, ramblings, book reviews, and everything between the lines!Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-5204407671979913152015-03-27T20:31:00.001-04:002015-03-27T20:31:51.875-04:00Review: Kissing in America by Margo Rabb<br />
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Date Read – March 27<sup>th</sup>, 2015<o:p></o:p></div>
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Publication Date – May 26<sup>th</sup>, 2015 – HarperCollins <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sixteen year old Eva is still reeling from her father’s sudden death. In her grief, she finds solace in romance novels, hoping that just like the characters in those novels she can find her own true love. Eva gets that chance when she meets Will, who knows all too well what grief feels like. Eva and Will begin a romance that seems to flow within the same direction as of the heroes and heroines of her collection of novels, even sharing a kiss. Of course there is a sudden twist in Eva’s story when Will leaves without warning to California. Together with her best friend Annie, they set out on a road trip to see Will again. Along the way, Eva will discover the many faces of love, coming to terms with her loses, and gaining many things in<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XHDIJqHPx8Q/VRXzNo6ySvI/AAAAAAAABGo/1NDG7MXx1jw/s1600/cures%2Bfor%2Bheartbreak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XHDIJqHPx8Q/VRXzNo6ySvI/AAAAAAAABGo/1NDG7MXx1jw/s1600/cures%2Bfor%2Bheartbreak.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a> <i>Kissing in America</i> is very similar to Margo’s previous novel Cures for <i>Heartbreak</i> (I highly recommended it) which is also about a young girl who loses her mother. Mia and Sasha (The Cancer Guy) are one of my favorite YA couples. The details of the locations are well written, but at times the story slugged, as if the bus the girls were traveling had engine trouble. However the story picked up soon after. I understand grief and I found myself crying for Eva, an endearing heroine that readers will fall in love with. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The cliché of <i>it’s not about the destination, it’s the journey rings true</i> for <i>Kissing in America</i>. A heartbreaking, hilarious and ultimately joyful novel that will resonate with lots of girls. It is a multifaceted story of the different kinds of love and will serve as comfort for those who grieve for the people they've lost. <o:p></o:p></div>
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For more about Margo and her novels visit her <a href="http://margorabb.com/" target="_blank">website.</a><br />
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While reading <i>Kissing in America</i>, I couldn’t help but think about the song <i>True Love</i> by Coldplay. A haunting song of finding ones true love. <o:p></o:p><br />
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Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-507029507383896712015-01-19T10:09:00.000-05:002015-01-19T10:09:52.879-05:00Review: The Anger Meridian by Kaylie JonesDate Read – January 18<sup>th</sup>, 2015<br />
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Publication Date- July 7<sup>th</sup>, 2015 – Akashic Press<o:p></o:p></div>
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Source - Publisher<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f0zDwFiCLNU/VL0dlth5BHI/AAAAAAAABE4/0uzNffFVTXE/s1600/anger%2Bmeridian%2Bcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f0zDwFiCLNU/VL0dlth5BHI/AAAAAAAABE4/0uzNffFVTXE/s1600/anger%2Bmeridian%2Bcover.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><i> Merryn Huntley’s life has been turned upside down after her husband Beau is killed in a car accident. In order to protect herself and Tenney, her nine year old daughter, they both flee to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico to Bibi. Since Merryn was young Bibi told her “When you tell a lie, make sure you keep it as close to the truth as possible, because it will be easier to remember.” Merryn has taken this belief way too heart. Merryn will witness her life fall apart as lie after lie is exposed from her husband’s so-called business to unearthing Bibi’s ruthless reign and the isolation she subjected Merryn to. That is if Merryn decides to not only fight for the truth but for her very life.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> I have always known Kaylie as a first rate novelist with reading Celeste Ascending, Speak Now and her memoir Lies My Mother Never Told Me. She vividly captures the landscape with intricate details that left me in awe. At times, I was annoyed with Merryn and her refusal to face reality. As for Bibi, she’s a great case study of the nightmare that no mother should subject their children to. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>The title is an interesting choice. Merryn’s yoga instructor explains that the anger meridian is the time in the twenty four hour cycle when anger is at its strongest. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> This isn’t the first time that I read The Anger Meridian with Kaylie being so kind enough to letting me read the draft last year. I was instantly hooked and it was impossible to put my kindle down.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> Kaylie has outdone herself with The Anger Meridian a thrilling and suspenseful novel that will have you hopelessly hooked from page one and will refuse to relinquish your eyes to every page, regardless of sleep deprivation. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br />Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-83295115714295301892015-01-16T12:52:00.001-05:002015-01-16T12:52:39.739-05:00Book Review: The In Between by Olivia Pierce<i>Date Read - January 11th, 2014</i><br />
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<i>Date Published - November 26th, 2014</i><br />
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<i>Source - NetGalley</i><br />
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<i> Since they were children Tara Jenkins has always lad a close friendship with Justin Westcroft. In high school, Tara admires Justin from afar with him being a part of the ruling "Awesome-Nots". Their relationship becomes deeper when Tara saves Justin's life when he almost drowns. Tara's dream becomes a reality of Justin falling in love with her. They are destined for their happy ending.</i><br />
<i> On a rainy night, Tara and Justin are involved in a horrible car accident. Justin isn't lucky and is killed. As Tara struggles with her grief, Justin himself is trapped in "The In Between" as he is given a mission to letting Tara go. To forget and gain access to Heaven. Justin is determined to keep his love for Tara as she refuses to relinquish her love for Justin. But it will come at a price.</i><br />
<i> I have read a few books about the afterlife. A favorite is "I Heart You, You Haunt Me" by <a href="http://bookjunkiereview.blogspot.com/2012/12/interview-withlisa-schroeder.html" target="_blank">Lisa Schroeder</a>. This book was at times cheesy and I wasn't that in too the author's idea of the afterlife. But I will confess that the story picks up and I wasn't able to put it down by the end, which is one I wasn't expecting.</i><br />
<i> Whatever your interpretations of the afterlife are, "The In-Between" is a nice love story on how it can transcends from beyond.</i><br />
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<i><a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/star%20rating/Silver_Hills/4stars.png?o=37" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r449/Silver_Hills/4stars.png" /></a></i>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-53958771916345980832014-08-20T09:14:00.000-04:002014-08-20T09:14:01.667-04:00Good Morning Mr. Mandela: A Memoir by Zelda la Grange<div class="MsoNormal">
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<i>Date Published – June 24, 2014 – Viking Adult</i></div>
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<i>Zelda grew up in apartheid era <st1:country-region w:st="on">South Africa</st1:country-region>, which her family believed and supported the racist government. When Nelson Mandela was released from prison, Zelda was hired as a secretary for the president’s office. Little would she realize that she go from being a lowly secretary to being President Mandela’s loyal confidant, traveling the world with him and destroying her life-long beliefs of segregation and racism.</i></div>
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<i> The book was technical with the narrative of “He said this”, “I did this”, “I went here” which sometimes made for a tedious read. What lacks with writing style, it made up with the deep love and passion she had for her job and for Madiba, who she became extremely close to, up until the end. At times, I shed a few tears as she told stories of his love for her and the raw grief she experienced after his death last year.</i></div>
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<i> This memoir is a wonderful tribute to Madiba, his life and his work to bring a nation together and changing the world for the better. You will be moved to tears, feeling the love and loyalty radiating from the book. You will be left in awe of both Madiba and of Zelda who opened her heart to the world and sharing the love she will always have for him. </i></div>
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<br />Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-25940916918336902432014-06-25T14:25:00.001-04:002014-06-25T14:25:14.176-04:00Review: Melt by Selene Castrovilla<br />
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<i>Date read-May 16, 2014</i><br />
<i>Date published-November 6, 2014 </i><br />
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Dorothy is a new comer to <st1:place w:st="on">Highland Park</st1:place>, where all the cool kids congregate
Muchkinland (a.k.a. Dunkin Donuts). There, she meets Joey, the resident ‘bad
boy’ who everyone fears and stays away from. But Dorothy is not deterred by his
bad rep, for she sees a wounded person, from the pain of abuse and battling his
own demons. Both have an instant connection and their love is not just tested
by peer pressure, but of Joey’s home life and a devastating encounter threatens
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The story is told
through a dual perspective, with Joey’s voice as gritty and heartbreaking as
anything I’ve ever read. There is a slight variation to “The Wizard of Oz”, but
I hardly found any of it in the book. Dorothy’s sweetness balances out Joey’s
sharp prose. Some of you might have heard about Selene’s other novels, including
“Saved by the Music” and “The Girl Next Door”, a novel that is also
heartbreaking. However, you take that novel and ratchet up a billion volts, and
that’s enough to not only break hearts but haunt them as well. I re-read the
novel twice, which I was not able to put down. The writing is a sucker punch to
the very heart and maybe some readers might not have the heart to continue.
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Selene Castrovilla is
indeed a writer worth watching for (the blurb from Jacqueline Woodson on the
cover). And “Melt” is a story that is worthy of comparison to Ellen Hopkins. I
cannot highly recommend this novel enough.</div>
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<i><i><a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/star%20rating/Silver_Hills/5stars.png?o=38" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r449/Silver_Hills/5stars.png" /></a></i></i>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-45749160472023575542014-06-05T10:41:00.002-04:002014-06-05T10:41:59.572-04:00<i>Review: "Rumble" by Ellen Hopkins</i><br />
<i>Date read-April 8, 2014</i><br />
<i>Date published-August, 26 2014-Simon and Schuster</i><br />
<i>Source-Edelwiess </i><br />
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<i>Eighteen year old Matthew Turner has no belief in anything. Not of his brother's suicide, his parent's crumbling marriage, his former friends who turned their backs on him. But his strongest belief, and one that he feels strongly about, is of the non-existence of God or any higher being, despite the fact that his girlfriend Hayden's deep religious faith. Matt chooses to live it up, without the intention of being responsible. That is before a horrific accident that will question everything he has doubted.</i><br />
<i> I have always been a fan of Ellen's books, from her debut "Crank" to finally re-reading "Identical" (my favorite). In this latest one, she uses her talents of raw story-telling and organizing the prose, as she always does. Despite Matt's flaws, I liked him right away, who is someone who tries to hide the pain and abandonment, behind the facade of bad-ass. The story moved fast, and by the end, I was breathless, in awe of the story.</i><br />
<i> It doesn't surprise me, or anyone, why Ellen Hopkins's novel are so well-liked and has a huge fan-base. I had the pleasure of meeting her twice. This latest novel will shock and awe the reader. A book I recommend. </i><br />
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</i> <i>"What I've Done" perfectly describes Matt's struggles with the mistakes and the past that has haunted him.</i><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/pMePM9Q-bYk" width="420"></iframe>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-65557674954674783662014-03-31T18:59:00.000-04:002014-03-31T18:59:57.428-04:00Book Review: "Inside the Hotel Rwanda" By Edouard Kayihura and Kerry Zukus<div class="MsoNormal">
Date Read – March 31<sup>st</sup> 2014</div>
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Date Published – April 1<sup>st</sup>, 2014 – BenBella Books</div>
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For most people who know about the Rwandan genocide in 1994, they first learned about it by the Academy Award nominated 2004 film <i>Hotel Rwanda</i> staring Don Cheadle—who was nominated for Best Actor—portrays Paul Rusesabagina, the manager of the Hotel Milles Collines who single handily saved over 1500 people who sought refuge inside the luxury hotel. He was named the Oskar Schindler of <st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place> and dubbed a hero by the world. But as the cliché goes, you can’t believe everything you see, especially a Hollywood film. Edouard Kayihura escaped the Hutu extremists and made his way to the hotel. What he saw and experienced was the complete opposite from the film with Rusesabagina threatening to kick out anyone who didn’t pay and drinking with the men responsible for orchestrating the genocide. The hundreds of people, both Hutu and Tutsis alike, have to survive the killings and terror from both the outside and within.</div>
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When I began reading <i>Inside the Hotel Rwanda</i>, I wasn’t able to put it down. The harrowing stories of survival from within the hotel were heart wrenching as survivors struggled day after day for food and drinking the chlorine pool water while Rusesabagina drank the day away with the money he extorted from the people themselves. It was confusing at times while I read and sometimes, I had to go back and re-read the passages. That being said, it not only made me furious, but it was also deeply moving to read about the real heroes of the story, from the UN peacekeepers keeping guard, to the ordinary individuals who risked their lives in bringing people to the hotel, and the camaraderie built regardless of ethnicity. Right after I read <i>Shake Hands with the Devil, </i>written by Romeo Dallaire, commander of the UN mission during the genocide in Rwanda, (A book I highly recommend) I saw the film and was able to point out the inaccuracies of the events and misrepresentation of characters. I do owe some credit to the film in first learning about Rwanda, but still. </div>
<i> Inside the Hotel Rwanda</i> is a riveting expose of a so-called hero that <st1:city w:st="on">Hollywood</st1:city> created and an examination of how it came to be. It is also a deeply moving tribute for the million or so Rwandans killed, the survivors who endured the horror of the genocide, and the brave individuals who risked their lives for the very sake of humanity and who are finally getting their own long-overdue recognition.<br />
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To learn more about the book, go to their <a href="http://www.insidethehotelrwanda.com/" target="_blank">website</a><br />
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A film I recommend watching, and a great counter-piece to "Hotel Rwanda" is "Shake Hands with the Devil" a Canadian film from 2007, based on the book. It stars Roy Dupuis as Gen. Dallaire and it's a powerful and soul-stirring performance. Not to mention, filmed entirely in Rwanda and in the actual locations where the events took place. Watch the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaHAXnOGj9k" target="_blank">trailer. </a><br />
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<i>Date Published - November 26th 2013-Kensington</i><br />
<i>Source-NetGalley</i><br />
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<i>Two years ago, Audra Hughes lost her husband and is left to take care of their seven year old son, Jack. Just when they both are about to move to Philadelphia, Jack is plagued by horrible anxiety and nightmares. Audra desperately follows the snippets of clues for Jack’s nightmares and led her to Sean Malloy, a wounded US Army Veteran who served in Afghanistan. Together, they unearth a mystery that leads back to WWII. Within a love story are secrets that threaten to destroy that love and will eventually lead the lovers to commit unthinkable acts in the name of love.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>I’m a total sucker for historical love stories, especially from WWII. The story opens up and it’s somewhat slow. But of course, the author quickly picks up the pace and it’s not long before I race through it and anticipating of what might happen. The author does an extraordinary job with incorporating plot twists that will leave your head spinning and totally breathless. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>In the similar tradition of Tatiana De Rosnay’s “Sarah’s Key” and Pam Jenoff’s “The Kommandant’s Girl”, and “The Diplomat’s Wife”, “The Pieces We Keep”, is a thrilling story of intrigue, betrayal, a mother’s love, and the echoes of love that can be felt throughout the generations. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<i><a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/star%20rating/Silver_Hills/4stars.png?o=37" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r449/Silver_Hills/4stars.png" /></a></i>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-10268828094703606202014-02-15T10:29:00.000-05:002014-02-15T10:29:42.110-05:00Interview with...Laura Wiess<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P6rN6vuTS_o/Uv-A9b7GJzI/AAAAAAAAA60/-cFM3z89Vj0/s1600/000laura+wiess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P6rN6vuTS_o/Uv-A9b7GJzI/AAAAAAAAA60/-cFM3z89Vj0/s1600/000laura+wiess.jpg" height="320" width="197" /></a><i>Laura Wiess has been commended by
critics and readers for giving the world extraordinary heroines, including
Meredith (Such A Pretty Girl), Sayre (Ordinary Beauty) and now Rowan (Me Since
You). </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">1. <b>When did you first realize that you wanted
to become an author?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Actually,
the Big Moment of Clarity was the moment I began to wonder if I actually<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>could </i>ever become a published
author. That was not only thrilling but also hugely terrifying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">I grew
up with a mom who loved reading, and who read to me right from the beginning.
We had library cards for multiple libraries and we checked out bags full of
novels to read every week. So I grew up loving the adventures I got to go on
with the fictional heroines. And, of course, when you read a lot, it follows
that you begin to write, if only to enjoy weaving language and creating
characters and adventures of your own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">I wrote
fiction in grade school and throughout high school, sharing it with family and
friends. Creative Writing was my one easy A. Still, I never even thought about
trying to take it any further. Writing was something I did everyday because I<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>loved</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>it, because it was necessary. It was
never anything I thought about putting out there for a professional to judge,
and perhaps find lacking. Yikes. Beyond that, I believed that authors were
brilliant, magical, mysterious people who lived an exalted existence, one far
beyond anything I could ever attain, or even imagine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">And
then came the day I made what has turned out to be the most magical,
nerve-wracking, exhilarating and satisfying decision of my life. I was reading
through this YA romance story I’d been writing just for fun, and I distinctly
remember stopping and thinking,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>You
know, Laura, you can write for friends and family forever and that’ll be it…
OR…</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>(and here’s where my
heart started pounding and I broke out in a cold sweat)<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>You can see if you have what it
takes to write something good enough to maybe get published.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Gasp.
Wait: Take my tender little pieces of prose away from the family and friends who
always applauded them (Of course they did. They loved me, and would have
applauded anything I created) and send them out into the cold, cruel world to
an anonymous editor with a stack of a thousand other anonymous pieces on
his/her desk, and who would judge my stories on their merit alone? Are you
KIDDING?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">It was
a terrifying thought because…well, what if my writing actually stunk, and my
whole life had been spent skipping around in blissful ignorance, thinking I
could write good stories when in reality, my family and friends had just been
jollying me along? What if I was not only bad, but truly awful? Could I ever
write again, even for myself, knowing I sucked?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Happily,
the more stubborn part of me surfaced fast and shoved the fear away long enough
for me to make a plan of action. (I love plans of action.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">First,
I went to the library and took out every book I could find on how to craft
fiction. Books on characterization, themes, creating tension, formatting,
language, story rhythm and structure, how to submit, where to submit to, etc..
The best (and most astonishing) part of that was finding out how much I didn’t
know about writing fiction. (I mean, I was a beginner and just because I could
catch a football didn’t mean I’d automatically get to play in the Superbowl,
right? Right. It was a humbling and very useful realization, and came in handy
when the rejections started pouring in later.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">So, I
started writing constantly and trying to dig deeper each time, learning to set
the work aside for a while so I could go back and reread it with fresh eyes to
see what didn’t work. Learning there was such a thing as a first draft, and
that a first draft is where you get to pour it all out, unedited, and that it
should never reach the public. That draft is yours to go back and work with, to
mine and restructure, rewrite and strengthen. That it could take a year or two
or seven to write one book, whatever your process is, and it could still stink
in the end and never be published. That this was the chance you had to be
willing to take. Writing came with no guarantees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">When I
started, I had no clue as to how much you have to love writing to spend all of
your free time for weeks, months and years searching for the right words to
express the scenes you see and hear and feel inside of you, how much you have
to love your main characters to make them real, and to want to spend so much
time with them. How you have to let them fall and hurt themselves, so you can
rise beside them when they pick themselves up again, wipe their eyes and take
another step forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">I
didn’t know that to write ‘real’ I would have to find a way to feel what my
characters felt, see what they saw. I had to learn to trust them and not turn
away, or try and sweeten things up when the story or the emotions got painful
or ugly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Finally,
after months and months (and months) of racking up dozens of rejections, I had
my first short story accepted for publication in a literary magazine. Oh, the
pure gold of that moment. I was paid in contributor’s copies, but it felt like
a million dollars.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">I
didn’t care that my ratio of acceptances to rejections was maybe one in thirty.
That was good enough for me. Who cared about those other twenty-nine carefully
written but rejected stories, when one had actually made it? That acceptance
meant everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">I had
done it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">I had
become a published author.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<b><span style="color: #222222;">2. What inspires you to write? How do you
come up with story ideas?</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mEpS_oAGSKY/Uv-BcJXr1FI/AAAAAAAAA68/GpR85SWJAyo/s1600/69661_10151300553943124_1501479603_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mEpS_oAGSKY/Uv-BcJXr1FI/AAAAAAAAA68/GpR85SWJAyo/s1600/69661_10151300553943124_1501479603_n.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Well, I
really love that no one is ever only what we see, or even what they show or
tell us of themselves. There is always more. I want to know why we do what we
do. The choices we make. What we defend, what we surrender. Motivation
intrigues me. I like shining a light into dark places, seeing who is huddled
there and discovering what they’re dealing with. I want explore that small,
burning ember of hope that keeps each of us going…and what happens when it goes
out. I love when my characters make me cry. That’s when I know their struggle
is real enough to go straight into my heart and change the way I look at life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">I guess
I write to try and understand different life experiences and points of view,
and for me it all starts with a character. Once the main character becomes a
real person in my head, with a voice and a life of her own, it’s her story and
I’m just running along behind her, typing like crazy.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<b><span style="color: #222222;">3. In<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>some
of your novels, like "Ordinary Beauty" animals play a huge role in
your stories. What are some of your favorite animals and/or pets?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">I’m an
animal lover and try hard to practice it without prejudice, so yes, I’ve been
known to catch field mice bare-handed to move them before my cats get them
(field mice are very sweet and when they’re in your cupped hands, safe, you can
feel their little hearts beating with fear. They came inside because they were
hungry, and why would I ever want to hurt someone who is only trying to live,
just like me?) I’ve caught flying squirrels and bats in the house and released
them outside, petted opossums – nature’s most wonderful vacuum cleaners and
cute as buttons – shared my patio with a very tolerant skunk and my garden with
shy, insect-eating snakes. (And my woods with rattlesnakes, who do their best
to warn you away with a polite rattle, which I very much appreciate.) I try to
do no harm, and so the deer are welcome to their portion of my flower beds and
the bears to basically whatever they want, lol. They’re hungry. I’m not. I
don’t mind sharing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Beyond
wildlife, it’s dogs and most splendidly, cats. I’ve spent a lot of time
feeding, catching, spaying, neutering and gentling feral cats, and it’s one of
the most satisfying things I’ve ever done. Being consistent enough to earn
their trust, starting out as a potential threat (in their eyes) who is only
there to curse or chase or hurt them, and over the months demonstrating your
reliability and intentions by speaking soft and low, by not challenging them or
expecting too much, too fast, by extending a hand and holding still for as long
as it takes for that first tentative sniff -- a huge gesture for a frightened,
wild animal – by showing them, slowly but surely, that the hard world they
exist in can be softer, that there is kindness and food and warmth and…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Ha,
there it is again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">I can’t
help it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">I’m a
huge fan of hope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<b><span style="color: #222222;">4. Which authors and/or books have inspired
you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Inspiration
comes in so many different forms. I’ve read books so moving and beautiful that
they’ve left me not only in awe but also frustrated because I knew I’d never be
able to write like those authors, and books that actually cheered me to think I
could do better, and got me writing with a determined eye to keep improving. So
happily, inspiration runs the gamut.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">I do
have a short list of books I reread every so often that remind me of the
necessary story components and somehow provide the structure my brain needs to
start writing again. They’re all comfort reads; some make me laugh, some I very
much admire the skilled characterization, some keep the stories moving fast and
reinforce the importance of pacing. Things like that. I love each one of them
and their characters, and it’s kind of a bonus prize that they serve a dual
purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<b><span style="color: #222222;">5. Is there any advice you would like to
give to any aspiring authors?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Keep
reading. Keep learning. Find a character or an issue you’re passionate about,
one that seizes you and just won’t let go, and explore it. Study the craft of
writing. Be willing to rewrite, over and over again to make the story the best
and most compelling it can be. Don’t be afraid to go deep, to excavate layer
after layer to get to the truth of your character, your story, your work. Trust
the process. Get used to spending lots of time alone, mulling, what iffing,
creating. Sometimes you’ll tear your hair out because the scene isn’t working,
sometimes you’ll shiver with pure exultation because it is. Make us laugh, make
us cry, make us FEEL. Give us the best that you’ve got, so we can laugh and cry
with you. And most of all, if you love to write, keep going because in the end,
it’s all about the story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">Thank you so much, Ruth, for your kindness and for being such
a wonderful host. It’s been a pleasure talking with you!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;">Thank you, Laura for this </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">privilege to</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> interview you and your amazing stories! </span></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222;">Laura's new novel "Me Since You" will be released on February 18 </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;">For more info on her and her other novels visit her <a href="http://www.laurawiess.com/" target="_blank">website.</a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Here is my review for <a href="http://bookjunkiereview.blogspot.com/2014/01/review-me-since-you-by-laura-wiess.html" target="_blank">Me Since You</a></span></div>
Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-54408045290165948572014-01-17T17:30:00.000-05:002014-01-17T17:30:41.278-05:00Review: "Me Since You" by Laura Wiess<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Date Read – January 17<sup>th</sup>, 2014</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Date Publish – Feburary 18<sup>th</sup>, 2014 – MTV Books</i></div>
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<i>Source – Edelwiess </i></div>
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<i><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4WpGzBNofV0/UtmooYpfoUI/AAAAAAAAA6U/tZHp-LSM32I/s1600/mesinceyou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4WpGzBNofV0/UtmooYpfoUI/AAAAAAAAA6U/tZHp-LSM32I/s1600/mesinceyou.jpg" height="400" width="257" /></a></i></div>
<i>For sixteen-year-old Rowan Areno, her life is separated by Before and After. The before was of her growing up way too sheltered by her police officer father and mother. The after was of skipping school on the last Friday in March, with her friend. Then a devastating crime that her father had to witness and the video of it was leaked, going viral, and Rowan, along with her family having to deal with the fallout. Just when things couldn’t get any worse, a horrific tragedy shatters Rowan’s world all the more. During all of this, Rowan befriends Eli, a witness of the crime who also has to deal with heartache of his own. With his help, Rowan will have to navigate through the world of sorrow, wondering if she will ever feel happiness again.</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i> When I read “Ordinary Beauty”, I knew Laura Wiess was a writer to be reckoned with. As A.M. Jenkins says “Laura Wiess boldly goes where writers fear to tread.” If I thought “Ordinary Beauty” was a powerful novel, she takes it up to an extreme notch with “Me Since You.” In a few instances, I had to put down my kindle and cry, feeling for Rowan and her ordeal. I was also reminded of my relationship with my dad and how much I love him. I am still haunted by Rowan and her struggles that I still cry. Laura Wiess should be commended with both her stories and her heroines, like Meredith from “Such a Pretty Girl” and Sayre from “Ordinary Beauty” that are as real to me as any person I know.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i> As heart wrenching it is to read “Me Since You”, it is a novel that has to be read. There aren’t enough spoken words or written letters that can ever express the rawness of Rowan’s story. This is a beautiful novel that examines regret, sorrow, forgiveness, and ultimately hope.<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/star%20rating/Silver_Hills/5stars.png?o=38" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r449/Silver_Hills/5stars.png" /></a></i></i><br />
<i><br />
</i> <i>Coldplay's "Fix You" is a perfect song to describe Rowan and Eli's relationship and how they are both trying to fix each other.</i><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/k4V3Mo61fJM?rel=0" width="560"></iframe> </div>
Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-78709236128027418052013-12-17T19:49:00.000-05:002013-12-17T19:49:26.260-05:00Top 10 Reads of 2013<i><b>Where has the time flown? What a year it's been as far as books. I haven't read that much since I have been busy with writing and other things. It wasn't easy, but here is my top 10 list of books that I absolutely loved!</b></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GilOY8w45Cs/Uq_RNDuyaWI/AAAAAAAAA2E/LtO9yhkF8FQ/s1600/001909404chanda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GilOY8w45Cs/Uq_RNDuyaWI/AAAAAAAAA2E/LtO9yhkF8FQ/s200/001909404chanda.jpg" width="138" /></a></div>
<i><u>Chanda's Wars by Allan Stratton </u></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I first read “Chanda’s Wars” back in 2009. Four years later,
I re-read this powerful tale of war, survival, and love. Read my <a href="http://bookjunkiereview.blogspot.com/2013/08/review-chandas-wars-by-allan-stratton.html" target="_blank">review.</a> Also check out my interview with <a href="http://bookjunkiereview.blogspot.com/2013/08/interview-withallan-stratton.html" target="_blank">Allan Stratton.</a></i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AyL0U8kb4V0/Uq_XobhZW9I/AAAAAAAAA2U/YOY2eQ5Xe5Q/s1600/013546619+(1)paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AyL0U8kb4V0/Uq_XobhZW9I/AAAAAAAAA2U/YOY2eQ5Xe5Q/s200/013546619+(1)paris.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
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<i><u>Paris: A Love Story by Kati Marton</u></i></div>
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<i>Kati Marton’s memoir of lost loves and her tribute to the
City of <st1:city w:st="on">Lights</st1:city>
will rekindle any memories of your own love with someone. Read my <a href="http://bookjunkiereview.blogspot.com/2013/02/review-paris-love-story-by-kati-marton.html" target="_blank">review.</a></i></div>
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<i><u>If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch</u></i></div>
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<i>A spectacular YA debut on two sisters and the dark secret
that threatens to destroy them. Read my <a href="http://bookjunkiereview.blogspot.com/2013/04/review-if-you-find-me-by-emily-murdoch.html" target="_blank">review.</a></i></div>
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<i><u>The Crooked Branch by Jeanine Cummins</u></i><br />
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<i>Jeanine Cummins gorgeous second novel explores a mother’s
love and the surprising connections of the past to the present. Read my <a href="http://bookjunkiereview.blogspot.com/2013/03/review-crooked-branch-by-jeanine-cummins.html" target="_blank">review.</a></i></div>
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<i><u>Perla by Carolina De Robertis</u></i></div>
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<i>A daughter’s revelations of her biological parents amidst
one of the darkest chapters in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Argentina</st1:country-region>’s
history make for a thrilling second book. Beautiful, sensual, and lyrical.</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A-sfeAyVYsA/UrC7etxXvAI/AAAAAAAAA3M/ByfbX41aDnI/s1600/0001615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A-sfeAyVYsA/UrC7etxXvAI/AAAAAAAAA3M/ByfbX41aDnI/s200/0001615.jpg" width="117" /></a><i><u>A Marker to Measure Drift by Alexander Maksik</u></i></div>
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<i>Alexander Maksik’s story of a young woman’s journey of
horror and survival will haunt you and leave you in awe. Read my <a href="http://bookjunkiereview.blogspot.com/2013/06/review-marker-to-measure-drift-by.html" target="_blank">review.</a></i><br />
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<i><u>Sacred by Elana K. Arnold</u></i><br />
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<i>Another amazing YA debut of loss, renewal, and love. Read my <a href="http://bookjunkiereview.blogspot.com/2013/07/review-sacred-by-elana-k-arnold.html" target="_blank">review.</a></i></div>
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<i><u>He's Gone by Deb Caletti</u></i></div>
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<i>Deb Caletti’s adult debut will please both her YA fan base
but the grown-up’s as well. Thrilling and heart rending. Read my <a href="http://bookjunkiereview.blogspot.com/2013/06/review-hes-gone-by-deb-caletti.html" target="_blank">review</a> and my <a href="http://bookjunkiereview.blogspot.com/2013/10/interview-withdeb-caletti.html" target="_blank">interview</a> with Deb.</i></div>
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<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; margin: 20px 0px 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="font-weight: normal;"><u>Exit Wounds: One Australian's War on Terror by John Cantwell</u></i></span></h3>
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<i>One of the most brutal memoirs about war that I’ve ever
read. Filled with horror but with humanity, once you read this book, you won’t
ever be the same. Read my <a href="http://bookjunkiereview.blogspot.com/2013/10/review-exit-wounds-one-australians-war.html" target="_blank">review.</a></i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-79hPsWcyz6Q/UrDdaQRCA-I/AAAAAAAAA5A/9A9lInCzMyQ/s1600/00runningtherift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-79hPsWcyz6Q/UrDdaQRCA-I/AAAAAAAAA5A/9A9lInCzMyQ/s200/00runningtherift.jpg" width="133" /></a><i><u>Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron </u></i></div>
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<i>Of all the books I’ve read about the Rwandan genocide,
“Running the Rift” is one of the best and one that I urge everyone to read. A
loving tribute to both the country and its people. Read my <a href="http://bookjunkiereview.blogspot.com/2013/10/review-running-rift-by-naomi-benaron_11.html" target="_blank">review.</a></i></div>
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<i><b>Here are the honorable mentions that didn't make the top ten, but were equally amazing!</b></i></div>
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<a href="http://bookjunkiereview.blogspot.com/2013/09/review-five-days-at-memorial-life-and.html" target="_blank"><i>Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Sheri Fink</i></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://bookjunkiereview.blogspot.com/2013/01/review-this-glittering-world-by-t.html" target="_blank">This Glittering World by T. Greenwood</a></i><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RpijNcHVnQs/UrDkroddciI/AAAAAAAAA5c/3Yq21CGJsVE/s1600/15802721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RpijNcHVnQs/UrDkroddciI/AAAAAAAAA5c/3Yq21CGJsVE/s200/15802721.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<a href="http://bookjunkiereview.blogspot.com/2013/02/review-comfort-of-lies-by-randy-susan.html" target="_blank">The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Myers </a><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vu9LKYTNMRw/UrDnfgD5qpI/AAAAAAAAA5o/FJbJLvO73YA/s1600/000youarenothere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vu9LKYTNMRw/UrDnfgD5qpI/AAAAAAAAA5o/FJbJLvO73YA/s200/000youarenothere.jpg" width="141" /></a></div>
<i>You Are Not Here by Samantha Schutz</i><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s3BfPpqHHoA/UrDqG4ldywI/AAAAAAAAA50/Up21U6IzUN8/s1600/000openheart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s3BfPpqHHoA/UrDqG4ldywI/AAAAAAAAA50/Up21U6IzUN8/s200/000openheart.jpg" width="122" /></a><i>Open Heart by Elie Wiesel</i><br />
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<i><b>Congrats to the authors for inspiring me as a writer and as a human. Most of all, thanks for making 2013 suck less. Happy Holidays and New Year's to all my followers!</b></i><br />
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Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-55311774637710842742013-10-22T18:36:00.000-04:002013-10-22T18:36:29.969-04:00Interview with...Deb Caletti <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>A veteran of YA lit (according to Kirkus), Deb Caletti’s
adult debut is likely to expand her fan base.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>You've been known for writing YA novels (Queen of
Everything, Wild Roses, Stay, among others). What made you want to write
"He's Gone", your first adult novel?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Writing a novel for adults had been something I’d wanted to
do for a long time, and so when an editor at Random House (the fabulous Shauna
Summers) approached us with the idea of “crossing over,” I jumped. I had
written four unpublished adult novels before a YA editor at S&S bought The
Queen of Everything, which we also thought was an adult novel. Because of these
beginnings, my writing has always sat at the edge of YA and adult, which has
lead to a very large adult audience for my YA books. My beloved younger readers were getting
older, too, and creatively, I was ready to shake things up a bit. I was also
biting at the bit for the challenge – there are many authors who cross from
adult to YA, but few who go the other direction. Making this leap just made sense. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The idea for the book itself came right when I needed it,
shortly after we’d begun discussing the possibility of me writing an adult
novel. The inspiration arrived in much the same way that He’s Gone begins. I
was lying in bed, trying to determine if my husband was home or not. I was
doing that thing you do, where you listen for the sound of footsteps, or the
toaster lever being pushed down, or coffee being made. And then, rather handily
and helpfully, came the thought: What if you woke up one morning and found that
your husband had vanished?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What are some of the books that have inspired you as an
author yourself?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b572UhsKfwc/Umb9Uf-8qxI/AAAAAAAAAyU/dHrgk4XL6Ok/s1600/15841844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b572UhsKfwc/Umb9Uf-8qxI/AAAAAAAAAyU/dHrgk4XL6Ok/s320/15841844.jpg" width="207" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe that every book I’ve ever read has influenced me,
from Little Bear and Curious George, to the Chronicles of Narnia, right on up
to the work of Flannery O’Connor and Hemingway. Every book influences. Then again, I have always considered myself
to be a reader first and a writer second.
My voracious reading habit (addiction?) began when I was a child, going
to the library. I was one of those kids who came out carrying a stack that I
could barely carry. I loved the library. I still love the library. I still come
out with a stack I can barely carry. It brings out my greediest and most joyful
self. Going to the library or a bookstore and spending as much time as I want
there is one of my very best kind of days. I’m happy right now even thinking
about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>If you weren't a writer, which career path would you have
chosen? </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My career longings have always been literary. As a child, I wanted to be a girl detective,
like Nancy Drew. Then, my desire to be a
writer settled in. If I couldn’t be a
writer, I would have likely become a librarian.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Do you listen to music while you write and if so, what are
some of your favorite artists/songs?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t generally listen to music when I write. Falkner once said, “I listen to the voices,”
and while I don’t necessarily hear voices (whew!), I do need quiet so that I
can “hear” the rhythms and cadences of a sentence. So much of writing, for me, is about
listening. My ear tells me when I’ve got
it right. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What advice would you
give to aspiring writers?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you want to write and publish, understand that there are
no Magic Keys or Six Steps to Success.
The bad news and the good news is that there is mostly just you, your
talent, and your hard work between “here” and “there.” Understand the business - what it can and
can’t do for you, what it expects from you, what the odds are. And then, informed with the truth and with
eyes wide open, go at it with all you’ve got. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read my review for <a href="http://bookjunkiereview.blogspot.com/2013/06/review-hes-gone-by-deb-caletti.html" target="_blank">He's Gone.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learn more about Deb and all her books on her <a href="http://debcaletti.com/" target="_blank">website.</a></span></div>
Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-20211773491816226642013-10-14T12:11:00.000-04:002013-10-14T12:11:10.153-04:00Review: "Falling for You" by Lisa Schroeder<i>Date read - October 13th, 2013</i><br />
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<i>Date published - January 1, 2013 - Simon Pulse</i></div>
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<i>Source - Personal collection</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TJQXMbbF6x8/UlwWxO5E7II/AAAAAAAAAx0/QjTVrzOHtTg/s1600/17334561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TJQXMbbF6x8/UlwWxO5E7II/AAAAAAAAAx0/QjTVrzOHtTg/s320/17334561.jpg" width="212" /></a><i>Rae's life is a complete mess: an absent mother, an abusive step-father, and struggling to find love. She escapes with writing poetry and listening to music, one of the few things she can look forward. That changes when Rae meets Nathan, the new guy at school. Their love grows and Rae feels the love that she has been hoping for and more. But soon, that love is suffocating her and Nathan is unwilling to let her go. Throughout all this, she leans on Leo for support and a love that makes her feel alive. However as events spiral out of control and with danger chasing her, Rae has to make a choice: let the darkness swallow her whole or fighting for the light.</i></div>
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<i> I've read all of Lisa's books and I absolutely adore her. Usually she writes in prose, however this is the first time she writes in regular prose. At first, I was a bit thrown off by this and had to read back on a few paragraphs. If it was unsteady at the beginning, she makes up for it as the story moves along. It would help if she continues to develop more with writing regular prose if she decides to try it again. The story itself is amazing and of course like in all of her novels, I couldn't put it down. My intention was to read a few chapters, but I never imagined to finish the 300 or so pages of the novel in one sitting (this is the third time this has happened). </i></div>
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<i> Lisa Schroeder has never disappointed her legion of fans (me being one of them) and "Falling for You" is another novel that readers will love. The characters are wonderful, the plot is suspenseful and the message of love and light is something that will stick with readers after the last page is turned. </i></div>
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<i><a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/star%20rating/Silver_Hills/5stars.png?o=38" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r449/Silver_Hills/5stars.png" /></a></i><br />
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<i>For more about Lisa and her books, go to her <a href="http://www.lisaschroederbooks.com/" target="_blank">website.</a></i><br />
<i>Check out my interview with <a href="http://bookjunkiereview.blogspot.com/2012/12/interview-withlisa-schroeder.html" target="_blank">Lisa.</a></i>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-18648139692235162472013-10-11T12:43:00.000-04:002013-10-11T12:43:38.590-04:00Review: "Running the Rift" by Naomi Benaron<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Date read - October 11th, 2013</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Date published - January 3rd, 2012 - Algonquin Books</span></i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a4jwPKdgNQ4/UlgpNQv24zI/AAAAAAAAAxk/bPojvRe96wo/s1600/11092210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a4jwPKdgNQ4/UlgpNQv24zI/AAAAAAAAAxk/bPojvRe96wo/s320/11092210.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since he was a boy, Jean Patrick Nkuba wants more than anything to become Rwanda's first Olympic medal winner for track. As the years pass, Jean Patrick runs when he can, the dream of Olympic glory as strong as his legs can carry. But as he becomes older, the fault lines of Rwanda are slowly exposed. The racial tension between the Hutus and Tutsis simmer as Jean Patrick moves closer to his dream. In the fateful year of 1994, Jean Patrick will have to confront the horror that unravels before his eyes and the possibility of losing everything he loves dear. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For over seven years, I have done extensive research about Rwanda and the genocide in 1994, in where a little over a million Rwandans (mostly Tutsis) were killed in three months. When one reads about the genocide, you descend into the catacombs for evil, horror, and brutality. Naomi Benaron has done plenty of research for the novel, which is very accurate. The story begins slowly, but the momentum builds up. At one point, I couldn’t put the book down and I could feel my whole body tense up, the fear roaring through me knowing of the incoming horror that is about to befall on Rwanda. That being said, I couldn’t help but fall head over heels in love for Jean Patrick and the rest of his huge family and friends. It seems as they were real people, which shows to me the author’s devotion to each of them. By the end, I was in tears. When I first heard about the book and checked it out, I had a very good feeling that this was going to be a book that I would love. My instincts were on the dot. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Running the Rift” is filled with horror and terror, but also tenderness and hope. It is a loving tribute to the people of Rwanda, not just to the dead, but for the survivors whom refuse to give in to the painful past, and in doing so carrying the nation forward towards a better tomorrow. The resilience and determination of Jean Patrick will resonate with readers, just like it did with me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A valuable addition to the literature of Rwanda, Naomi Benaron has done justice for the people of Rwanda and of our common humanity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Naomi wrote an excellent essay on the evolution of "Running the Rift" and the duty of telling the stories in regards to social justice. Read <a href="http://naomibenaron.com/essays/fiction-and-social-responsibility" target="_blank">here.</a></span><br />
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<i></i><br />Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-85172910153851294212013-10-03T17:57:00.001-04:002013-10-03T18:36:32.684-04:00Review: "Exit Wounds: One Australian's War on Terror" by John Cantwell<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Date Read - October 3th, 2013</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Date Published - October 1st, 2013 (Ebook) - Melbourne University Press</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Source - NetGalley</span></i><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g6IDloavFpE/Uk3l9QC6vWI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/1PRN_ayjiTU/s1600/00678exit.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g6IDloavFpE/Uk3l9QC6vWI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/1PRN_ayjiTU/s320/00678exit.png" width="206" /></a><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i> In 1974, John Cantwell, a young boy from Queensland, enlisted into the Australian Army. He served in Operation Desert Storm in 1990-1 as a Major-in-Command of a British tank squadron. In 2006, Brigadier General Cantwell was deployed to Iraq as the </i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i>d</i></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">irector of strategic operation for the multinational forces. And then in 2010, Major General Cantwell served as commander of the Australian forces in Afghanistan. Although he returned a year later to the safety of his native Australia, Major General Cantwell was still in a battle that he has fought in secret for almost two decades: Post traumatic stress disorder. It wasn't long before the past horrors of all three war campaigns have finally taken their toll and his personal unraveling began. Instead of being considered for the plump job as the Chief of the Army, he ended up in a psychiatric hospital.</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> A while back, I had read an excerpt of the book and I was stunned. Once I read the first sentence on the book, I wasn't able to put it down. The story had a deathly vice-grip on me and by the end of the night I had read over a quarter of the book. I was instantly revolved by the eye-witness accounts of death and destruction, from seeing burned corpses to having to identify some of the fallen troops under his command. What also moved me was the deep and abiding love he has for his wife, Jane, who wrote two chapters about her experiences with her husband's battle with PTSD. By the time I finished, I was crying, completely dumbstruck. At that moment, I knew my life was changed.</span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> In the similar vein of Romeo Dallaire's "Shake Hands with the Devil" (another life-changing book that I highly recommend) "Exit Wounds" is a tragic, heart-wrenching, and deeply moving account of a soldier's fiery descent into hell. It will shake you to the very core, but will leave you in awe of the raw courage of John Cantwell and exposing his past trauma in the hope of raising much needed awareness on the silent war that is destroying our troops.</span></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Watch the book trailer for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTJYnIg46Wc">Exit Wounds.</a></span></span></i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Read an excerpt of <a href="http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/home-safe-but-left-torn-by-the-horrors-of-war-20120921-26bz8.html">Exit Wounds.</a></span></i></span><br />
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<i></i>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-44675426114947310582013-09-25T16:01:00.000-04:002013-09-25T16:01:15.680-04:00Review: "Trafficked: My Story of Surviving, Escaping, and Transcending Abduction Into Prostitution" by Sophie Hayes<i>Date Read - September 18th, 2013</i><br />
<i>Date Published - September 3th, 2013 - <a href="http://sourcebooks.com/">Sourcebooks</a> </i><br />
<i>Source: NetGalley (Direct from the publisher) </i><br />
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<i>Sophie Hayes was an average middle class young woman living in England. Despite a difficult upbringing with her verbally abusive father, Sophie had managed to do well as an adult. After a failed relationship with her boyfriend, she confided with one of her friends, Kas who convinced her to come to Italy for a vacation. But it was then that the trip took a turn for the worse. With the threat of killing her brothers, Sophie went from an ordinary young woman to a terrified prostitute powerless to escape. For the next six months, she endured daily beatings from Kas and being forced to sell herself in order to pay off a so called "dept". But when she lands at the hospital, Sophie knows that it is her only chance in escaping.</i><br />
<i> At first, the story was dull and somewhat whining. However, the story began to pick up momentum and it wasn't long before my insides would quiver as Sophie describes to beatings and abuse she had to put up with. There might be some people asking themselves why didn't Sophie escape when she had the chance. She writes that the way Kas threatened her and depending on him day after day, she couldn't get up and run. It's so easy to judge, but for me, I can understand why Sophie couldn't escape. </i><br />
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<i> Already a huge bestseller in the U.K., "Trafficked" will likely find a large audience here in the U.S. Publisher's Weekly wrote that "Trafficked" is </i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">“A real life version of the Liam Neeson film Taken." Sophie is to be commended for not only surviving but using her experiences to shine a light at the horrors of sex </span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">trafficking. It is a difficult read, but worth it. </span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">For more on Sophie and how you can help victims of human trafficking, visit her </span><a href="http://www.sophiehayesfoundation.org/" style="line-height: 18px;">website.</a></span></i></span></div>
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<i></i>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-22116581694746193962013-09-09T15:46:00.000-04:002013-09-09T15:46:33.415-04:00Review: "Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital" by Sheri Fink<i>Date Read - September 9th, 2013</i><br />
<i>Date Published - September 10th, 2013 - Crown</i><br />
<i>Source - NetGalley</i><br />
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<i>Like most Americans, I would never forget the haunting images of the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, especially in New Orleans. Houses flooded, people waiting for rescue on rooftops, and worst of all, the dead being cast aside on a sidewalks. It's one thing to imagine, but it's a different story when you have lived through it.</i><br />
<i>This was the reality of the countless doctors, nurses, and patients trapped inside Memorial Medical Center. When the water rose, the generators failed, and the chaos ensued, some patients were prioritized and managed to evacuate. Others weren't so fortunate. It was within the dire situation that some of the doctors and nurses chose to do the unthinkable. Although the storm ended, the even bigger storm was to come of the doctors and nurses, accused of enthusing some of the patients. </i><br />
<i>The book reads like a novel, keeping the reader on the edge. For me, I couldn't put my kindle down as I raced to see what would happen. One of things I found amazing was how you could feel for each of the doctors and nurses marooned during Katrina. But at the same time, rage against them on their decision to play God. Sheri Link doesn't seem to pick sides and instead offers her six year research and relentless pursuit of the truth of what really happened during those five days.</i><br />
<i>In short, "Five Days at Memorial" is a must read for anyone who wants a glimpse of the horror of Katrina. It will make you questions your own beliefs and even after the last page is turned, the one question will linger: What would you do?</i><br />
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<i><a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/star%20rating/Silver_Hills/4stars.png?o=37" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r449/Silver_Hills/4stars.png" /></a></i>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-70683615974843849762013-08-21T17:49:00.000-04:002013-08-21T17:49:25.863-04:00Interview with...Allan Stratton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With several award-winning YA novels under his belt (one of them turned into film), Allan Stratton explains why he writes and how it inspired him.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In your first book, "Chanda's Secrets", you tackle the issue of AIDS. The sequel, "Chanda's Wars", deals with child soldiers. When was the first time you learned about child soldiers? What was your motivation behind both stories?</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>I had a lot of friends in New York and Toronto die of AIDS in the 1980s; I wrote Chanda's Secrets because I wanted to put a human face to the disease. I guess I first heard about child soldiers when reading European medieval and renaissance history, and remember being aware of the continuing global problem when reading about the Lord's Resistance Army in the 1990s. The impulse to write Chanda's Wars came from a dream I had some months after finishing Chanda's Secrets. I woke up out of a violent dream of fire and screaming -- dreaming as Chanda -- that my little brother and sister, Soly and Iris had been kidnapped and I had to save them.</i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>Never. You always work as hard as you can to do the best work possible. Sometimes serendipity steps in and magic happens. Success is something you can work hard for, but it's not something you can plan.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Besides "Chanda's Secrets" and "Chanda's Wars", you've written "Leslie's Journal" which deals with relationship abuse and "Borderline" that outlines the dangers of racial and religious intolerance. How do you get inspired when coming up with a story idea?</span><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I've mentioned the inspirations for the Chanda novels. Leslie's Journal came about because in my five years teaching I observed so many girls in abusive dating relationships. Also, more personally, my mother fled my father, who was extremely violent towards her; it's one of the many sound decisions she made. she passed away a year ago; I love and miss her so much. Borderline was inspired by wondering who my father was deep down inside. Also, by a childhood fear of being hanged for a crime I didn't commit; I don't trust the justice system to be just. However, I don't think of my novels as issue novels. The deeper themes are always about identity, secrecy, imagination and coming of age.</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Is there any advice you would give to an aspiring writers?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>For the writing: Write for the joy of it. And write what you care about. Don't be afraid to write about what you don't know factually -- what's important is to write about what you know emotionally. I've travelled the world and can say with experience that, cultural and class surfaces aside, under the skin we are all, emotionally, the same: full of fears, loves, hates, jealousies, kindnesses, despair and grace.</i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: purple; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To learn more about Allan and all of his books, including the film "Life, Above All", visit his <a href="http://allanstratton.com/">website.</a></span>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-47523462885557900172013-08-20T05:21:00.003-04:002013-08-20T05:21:32.088-04:00Review "Chanda's Wars" by Allan Stratton <i>Publication date: March 8th, 2008 - HarperTeen</i><br />
<i>Date read: August 20th, 2013 (First reading: January, 2009)</i><br />
<i>Source: Public Library</i><br />
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</i><i> For the past six months, Chanda has had to become an adult in caring for her two younger siblings. The pain of losing her mother to AIDS is still fresh for Chanda, especially the shame and stigma surrounding the disease. Chanda decides to take her brother and sister to see their relatives, determined to end a bitter feud and mending their relationship. Little does Chanda realizes is that a horrifying attack conducted by the ruthless General Mandiki with his band of child soldiers, will reek destruction and death throughout the whole village. With a young tracker accompanying her along with her wits and courage, Chanda will venture out and try to rescue her two siblings whose lives hang in the balance.</i><br />
<i> I first read "Chanda's Wars" back in 2009 and it wasn't until yesterday that I saw it on the shelve at the local library. It took me less than a day to finish the book. Four years later, it took me little more than five hours to finish. The story is fiction, but the circumstances are very real. Hundreds of thousands of children are being used as soldiers, forced to commit acts that no child should ever do. At times it is hard to read, but the story itself and it's heroine, will keep you reading until the wee hours of the morning (like me). </i><br />
<i> "Chanda's Wars" is a heartbreaking, horrifying, but life-affirming story filled to the brim with humanity, courage, love, and hope. Allan Stratton has done justice for the children whose lives are destroyed by war and giving us a story worth reading and a cause worth fighting for. </i><br />
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<br />Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-7433600546708390332013-07-19T17:47:00.000-04:002013-07-19T17:47:09.973-04:00Review: The Rest of Us by Jessica Lott<i>Publication Date: July 2, 2013 - Simon & Schuster</i><br />
<i>Date Read: July 19, 2013</i><br />
<i>Source: <a href="http://edelweiss.abovethetreeline.com/">Edelwiess (Direct from the publisher)</a></i><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6sby0XSkm9c/UemzWTXZZaI/AAAAAAAAAu0/bIgMhCwEOQQ/s1600/00161300rest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6sby0XSkm9c/UemzWTXZZaI/AAAAAAAAAu0/bIgMhCwEOQQ/s320/00161300rest.jpg" width="211" /></a><i>When Terry, a photographer's assistant, stumbles upon the obituary of Rhinehart, her former poetry professor/former lover, she is heartbroken. But to her everlasting shock, she bumps into him at Bloomingdale's very much alive. With the memories of their turbulent and volatile love affair, Terry realizes that this could be a second chance for their friendship and her own life.</i><br />
<i> At first, the story seemed to start off well. But as I read on, I was bogged down by Rhinehart and Terry's relentless dilemma over her lost love. Rhinehart appeared to me to be pompous and superior and I honestly couldn't connect with him. I felt a connection with Terry as the college student, and as a struggling artist. The one thing I liked was the setting of New York City and Lott does a good job in that aspect. </i><br />
<i>As a story, "The Rest of Us" doesn't live up for me. But as an author, Jessica Lott has potential. It would be better to wait for her next book.</i><br />
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<i><a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/star%20rating/Silver_Hills/2stars.png?o=35" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r449/Silver_Hills/2stars.png" /></a></i>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-34054198352804213542013-07-06T03:41:00.000-04:002013-07-06T03:41:49.562-04:00Review: "Sacred" by Elana K. Arnold <i>Publication date: November 13th, 2012- Delacorte Press</i><br />
<i>Date read: July 6th, 2013</i><br />
<i>Source: Library</i><br />
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<i>Living on Catalina Island, Scarlet Wenderoth has led an isolated life. </i><i>After her brother died, Scarlet's life has become filled with grief and without any joy. Her parents, who are too wrapped up in their own grief, fail to notice Scarlet's body disappearing and drowning in her grief. The only thing she can look forward to is riding her horse, escaping deep within the heart of the island. It's not until she encounters Will Cohen, who stops her dead on her tracks. At first, Scarlet is resistant to Will, but slowly she is awakened by the love both share. Just when Scarlet is beginning to heal, she makes a startling discovery about Will's past, which threatens to unravel their love and herself.</i><br />
<i>For me, Elana's debut is a hit! An enthralling ,gorgeous, and breath-taking story that will appeal to readers. It will linger with you after the last page. In a genre filled with vampire's, werewolf's, and zombie's (no offence to those who love them), "Sacred" is a breath of fresh air. </i><br />
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<i>Besides this being one of my favorites song's, "Stay" perfectly correspondence to Scarlet and Will's relationship.</i><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/JF8BRvqGCNs" width="560"></iframe><br />Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-75981699578068032532013-06-29T23:10:00.000-04:002013-06-29T23:10:57.755-04:00Review: "He's Gone" by Deb Caletti<i>Publication: May 14, 2013-Bantam (Random House)</i><br />
<i>Read: June 29, 2013</i><br />
<i>Source: <a href="http://netgalley.com/">NetGalley</a></i><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GYxJuTHWcvY/Uc-gmNF3GgI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/gZ5NmfawHhc/s475/0015711he'sgone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GYxJuTHWcvY/Uc-gmNF3GgI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/gZ5NmfawHhc/s320/0015711he'sgone.jpg" width="206" /></a><i>On a Sunday morning, Dani Keller begins the day with a hangover from a party the night before. Dani notices that her husband, Ian isn't at home. She gets on with her day in her houseboat in Seattle filling the hours with tasks. However as the hours pass, Dani's irritation shifts into worry and then eventually to panic. And by the day, Dani comes to the sickening realization that Ian is gone. As the police inquire about Ian's disappearance, Dani examines her affair with Ian, their lives together, and their disintegrating love.</i><br />
<i>This novel is Deb Caletti's first novel for adults. She has been known mostly for her YA adult novels ("Honey, Baby, Sweetheart" was nominated for the National Book Award). I have read "Wild Roses" a few years ago and I very much liked it. At times, I felt bogged down by the details of the friendships and people within. However, the momentum picks up and by the ending, I was left breathless.</i><br />
<i>"He's Gone" is a brilliant examination of secrets kept, relationships reaching their breaking point, and how far people are willing to go in the name of love. </i><br />
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<i></i>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-54866023094830103802013-06-26T01:49:00.000-04:002013-06-26T01:49:37.841-04:00Review: Always Watching by Chevy Stevens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Publication-June, 18 2013-St. Martin's</i><br />
<i>Date Read-June, 25, 2013</i><br />
<i>Source: NetGalley</i><br />
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</i> <i>Dr. Nadine Lavoie has made a career out of helping others facing their inner demons. She would rather focus on others than on her own, given that her daughter Lisa is a runaway drug addict that she hasn't seen in a while.</i><br />
<i>Then Heather Simeon, a new patient who attempted suicide, enter the psychiatric hospital and she is assigned to Nadine. Slowly, Heather reveals her life in a commune, a similar experience that Nadine went through when she was a child. For decades, Nadine has trouble remembering that time and as she digs deeper, Nadine discovers the horror and trauma she had sustained. It isn't long before events spiral out of her control that Nadine has a choice: Let the past destroy her, or fight back. </i><br />
<i>It is no wonder to me and many others that Chevy Stevens knows how to write a spine-chilling thriller of a novel. I was gripping my kindle as my eyes swept through each sentence, my heart pounding. Although I'm not a mystery/thriller kind of reader, "Always Watching" could very well make me into one. Filled to the brim with plenty of suspense, twists, turns, and thrills, "Always Watching" will grip you and never let you go. </i><br />
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<i>"Radioactive" is an appropriate song that in my opinion, goes well with the book. It highlights how circumstance can't keep us prisoners, and how fighting back is the only choice we have. </i><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="169" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eu-xFvLaE68" width="300"></iframe>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-60683220936685600922013-06-23T23:48:00.000-04:002013-06-23T23:54:49.849-04:00Review: "A Marker to Measure Drift" by Alexander Maksik<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Publication- July 30th, 2013-Knopf</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Date Read- June 21st, 2013</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Source- <a href="http://edelweiss.abovethetreeline.com/">Edelweiss</a></span></i><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E_oVJD0lAHA/UcU_oTag2JI/AAAAAAAAApE/hBqCtjkAdHU/s1600/0001615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E_oVJD0lAHA/UcU_oTag2JI/AAAAAAAAApE/hBqCtjkAdHU/s320/0001615.jpg" width="188" /></span></a><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In a remote Greek island, <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Jacqueline, a young woman, lives in a cave on a beach. Everyday, she drifts from the present struggles of finding food and shelter, to the memories of her life before madness engulfed her country of Liberia. As she navigates through the destructive terrain of the past horror, Jacqueline finds sources of joy from the delicious coffee she drinks to swimming through the cool sea under the merciless sun. It's not until some time, she learns that life isn't only about surviving, but ultimately thriving. </span></span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">H</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19px;">ypnotic, sensual, and captivating, </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Alexander Maksik's "A Marker to Measure Drift" is brutal but beautifully written. I was entranced by Jacqueline's journey through the horror of the past and her struggle to reclaim her life. This will grip the reader until the very end. </span></span></span></span></i><br />
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<i><a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/star%20rating/Silver_Hills/4stars.png?o=37" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r449/Silver_Hills/4stars.png" /></a></i>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30505195.post-88861487688906352722013-06-17T15:57:00.000-04:002013-06-17T15:57:51.711-04:00Review: The First Lie (Short Story) by Diane Chamberlain <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eNzc2_1YIOM/Ub9o2EmgsWI/AAAAAAAAAo0/9M-KdOrAM04/s1600/00017first.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eNzc2_1YIOM/Ub9o2EmgsWI/AAAAAAAAAo0/9M-KdOrAM04/s320/00017first.jpg" width="240" /></a><i>Date Read-June 15, 2013</i><br />
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</i> <i>Thirteen year old Ivy Hart lives with her grandmother and sister in a tobacco farm in rural North Carolina. One of the few things Ivy can look forward to is spending time with her best friend, Henry. But even her friendship with him can't take her mind off the secrets of her older sisters pregnancy and her refusal in saying who the father is. </i><br />
<i>However short the story is, Diane Chamberlain knows how to keep the reader on the edge of their seats. "The First Lie" sets the stage for her upcoming novel "Necessary Lies" which will be released this coming September. In the meantime, read this and be amazed (and try to be patient until September). </i><br />
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</i> <i><i><a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/star%20rating/Silver_Hills/4stars.png?o=37" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i355.photobucket.com/albums/r449/Silver_Hills/4stars.png" /></a></i></i>Ruthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08801795311388067202noreply@blogger.com2