Review - The Wednesday Letters by Jason Wright on Kindle

This one is for my Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge. I am SO PLEASED I chose to read this, would I have even noticed it without, I doubt it.

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks is one of my favourite books and movie of all times, well this reminded me of it. It is different but special in its own way.

Family love, family dilemma, the untold, everlasting love, parental love, sibling love, soulmate love, committment, forgiveness and understanding. Oh this book was a joy to read. If you’re looking for a good Valentine's book I recommend this one but overall I think anyone that wants to read a story about special love and forgiveness should read this.

The book starts out with the parents passing, they are found in the morning in each other’s arms. The story unfolds with the preparations of a double funeral. The siblings and special friends are called. The couple owned a Bed and Breakfast, so everyone came there. During unpacking they come across The Wednesday Letters.

The father wrote to his wife, their mom every Wednesday even if they were in the same room together. These letters had their parents deepest secrets, special times, fun, sad and memorable times. The parents knew one day they may be found. A few of these moments were shared during the eulogy.

The Wednesday Letters were on photocopy paper, lined notebook paper, tattered spiral notebook paper, hotel stationery, even scribbled on napkins.

One letter gave 20 things he loved about her. I will give you a teaser of one.

The way you let go of the blanket during the night when you roll over so you won't pull it off me. I can tell when you grab it again on the other side and give it a little tug; I like the tugs.

There is so much realness in this story. The sibling’s lives, the past family ran from but now had to deal with head on. So much suffering but in the end forgiveness and love get them through.

One lesson in this book is things are not always as they seem even with 'evidence'.

You will read this and want to start writing letters again. Oh the days of receiving a letter, remember that? :-) before emails, blackberry’s, even internet.

I thought this was going to be a romance novel, well it was so much more.

I can't wait to find out who recommended this one. Thank you.

NOTE - I read this on Kindle, but I do NOT recommend downloading, it had a few technical issues, possibly 2 sentences fully missed out etc.

And I would think the book has an interesting, creative way of putting the letters, so the actual book I think you should get, this is one I will buy to keep in the my collection.

I give this one 4 1/2 stars

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce, I appreciate it.

Unsure what to read next? Go to www.bookseer.com

I just found this website and had to share.... It gives you Amazon and LibraryThing recommendations according to what you read last. How cool is that.

Go have a try.....

http://www.bookseer.com/

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce, have a great week and hope you enjoy your books.

Friday Recommend Me - Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Recommend Me is a new meme that Kate from The Neverending Shelf will be hosting. Each Friday, participants will pick one of their all time favorite reads to share. This could be a book that your read yesterday or years ago.

To play along, grab a favorite read and tell us about it. You can include your thoughts about the novel, its summary, your favorite memory related to the novel... the possibilities are limitless. If you are up for a challenge, you can also include:

Your review of the novel

Links to others' reviews of the novel

Recommending to a general group of readers or if you want to be extra daring, to specific reader friends


Go here to participate: http://www.theneverendingshelf.com/2010/01/recommend-me.html

Still Alice by Lisa Genova, debut book

I read this book before I started blogging but I love it and I'm thankful for it because my father has Alzeheimer's and it helped me to understand how he feels at times especially from being in a high profile job and being a family man. A sad but brilliant book. I highly recommend. This one will always stay with me.

Summary

Still Alice is a compelling debut novel about a 50-year-old woman's sudden descent into early onset Alzheimer's disease, written by first-time author Lisa Genova, who holds a Ph. D in neuroscience from Harvard University.Alice Howland, happily married with three grown children and a house on the Cape, is a celebrated Harvard professor at the height of her career when she notices a forgetfulness creeping into her life. As confusion starts to cloud her thinking and her memory begins to fail her, she receives a devastating diagnosis: early onset Alzheimer's disease. Fiercely independent, Alice struggles to maintain her lifestyle and live in the moment, even as her sense of self is being stripped away. In turns heartbreaking, inspiring and terrifying, Still Alice captures in remarkable detail what's it's like to literally lose your mind...

Go here to see what prizes etc Lisa Genova has won for Still Alice http://www.stillalice.com/

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Awards - Thank you :-)

I recently received 2 Awards and wanted to say thank you. It is exciting to be a part of the Blogging World and getting recommendations of books I never would have found on my own. So a huge thank you to all.













Thank you Aths - http://booksonarainyday.blogspot.com/ for the Blogs so Kewl Award. It has been great coming across you recently also.



I would like to pass these onto the following Kewl Blogs, they are fairly new to me.



1. Jennifer http://www.readingwithtequila.com/

(This is my favourite blog and not new to me but it is great to be able to pass on an Award to her.)

2. Marcia http://printedpage.us/ This is a new blog to me and what a great header, WOW, great books and friendly blogger willing to give advice. She also host Mailbox Monday.

3. Laura de Leon http://imbookingit.wordpress.com/ I have added books to my TBR list from her great reviews.

4. http://www.capriciousreader.com/ Another I have added 2 books to my TBR list from her great reviews.












Thank you Stephanie - The Stark Raving Bibliophile http://starkravingbibliophile.blogspot.com/ for the One Lovely Blog Award.


The rules are:
Accept the award, and post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his/her blog link. Pass the award to 5 other blogs that you've newly discovered. I'd like to pass this award on to the following blogs I've recently found:


1. Aths http://booksonarainyday.blogspot.com/
2. April http://cafeofdreams.blogspot.com/
3. Marqutta http://lovetoreadforfun.blogspot.com/
4. Kari http://agoodaddiction.blogspot.com
5. Samantha http://samsbookblog.blogspot.com






Thank you visiting and commenting on Tea Time with Marce..... now let me go get a cup of Earl Grey Tea.

Review - Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles

I saw Jennifer from Crazy For Books review this and I added it to my list, thanks for a great review Jennifer, you can read hers here http://www.crazy-for-books.com/2009/11/review-lessons-from-dead-girl-by-jo.html

My Review

The inspiration for Lessons from a Dead Girl came from an article about kids abusing kids. Jo Knowles the author says. “I began to wonder what makes childhood friendships so complex, so painful at times and yet so binding,”

This was a fast troubling read. This book is for 14 year olds and up. When I first started reading it just felt young, I had to remind myself that 20 years ago this could have been me, but that didn’t work. I tried thinking about my nieces, that didn’t work and then I put myself presently in it, a mom that in a few years to come I could possibly have to deal with supporting my daughter through this and that is when I was able to read and fully enjoy the book.

Friendship is a special part of growing up, feeling important if you’re a part of the in crowd or not, just having one special friend is great. Well in the case of Laine and Leah, Laine had a love hate friendship for Leah. The ones you love and trust are sometimes the ones that hurt you the most.

Each chapter was a Lesson, each one important and a part of the self-discovery journey as a teenager. One Lesson – It’s Easier to Hate what we don’t understand……… this was a great one that continued throughout the book. Laine didn’t understand Leah and the things she did to Laine or asked her to do. Laine was confused on what friends forever or true friends really meant. Would a true friend treat you and do the things to you as Leah did?

As a mom it taught me the importance of talking and listening and not pushing your teenager into things that you can so no to. I have to remember the statement ‘teenagers will be teenagers’ will not go for everything and at times teenagers are screaming for help in every way other than really screaming. And secrets, oh the secrets, there should never be secrets when abuse is involved.

When the book got near the end I couldn’t stop reading, I was totally captivated, could Laine forgive Leah, and does she understand her now. This twisted friendship ended in tragedy but in many cases it was tragic along.

I will even admit to shedding a tear at the end. Will Laine find some meaning in the lessons, and decide whether she can forgive Leah and, ultimately, herself. That is the final thought.

I give it 4 stars

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Oops, lol, correct title Wrong author

So I was looking at my list of books for the Challenge with Reading with Tequilla, Book Recommendations Challenge and said that is not the author, why did I put that.

I go back to the challenge announcement and I WAS WRONG, DUH, how did I make that mistake, lmao

The good thing is that I enjoyed Lolly Winston's book and Libby Street's book is not my style so I will go choose another book.

How totally funny. If I didn't like the book this so would not be a laughing matter :-)

Thanks for sharing my laugh with me.

Oops

Teaser Tuesday - Lessons from a Dead Girl

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
  
• Open to a random page
  
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  
• 
  BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser from Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles

I just started last night and was thinking about how to create a Teaser, I decided to randomly choose 2 chapter titles which are lessons.

Lesson 5 - Secrets can be used against you.....

Lesson 22 - Be careful what you wish for......

Book Summary

"Portrays the tense and finely crafted dynamics between two girls. . . .A razor-sharp examination of friendship, abuse, and secrets." — KIRKUS REVIEWSLeah Greene is dead. For Laine, knowing what really happened and the awful feeling that she is, in some way, responsible set her on a journey of painful self-discovery. Yes, she wished for this. She hated Leah that much. Hated her for all the times in the closet, when Leah made her do those things. They were just practicing, Leah said. But why did Leah choose her? Was she special, or just easy to control? And why didn’t Laine make it stop sooner? In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laine is left to explore the devastating lessons Leah taught her, find some meaning in them, and decide whether she can forgive Leah and, ultimately, herself.

----

BTW - My Review from last weeks Teaser, Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston

http://teawithmarce.blogspot.com/2010/01/review-happiness-sold-separately-by.html

Thanks again for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Review - Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston

Summary

Elinor Mackey has lived her life in perfect order: college, law school, marriage, successful corporate career. But suddenly her world is falling apart. In her late 30s, she's discovered that she and her podiatrist husband, Ted, can't have children. When Elinor withdraws from Ted into an interior world of heartbreak and anger, Ted begins an affair with Gina, the nutritionist at their gym--a young woman with an oddball son who adores Ted. Meanwhile, Elinor falls in love with the oak tree in her front yard, spreading out her sleeping bag to sleep under the stars. Gina's jealous ex-boyfriend--a charming alcoholic with a mean streak--becomes a dark presence as his passion turns to violence. Ted, who may be the only one who can help Gina and her son, suddenly finds himself in love with two women at the same time. In the tradition of Anne Tyler, John Cheever, and Tom Perotta, Winston's second novel looks beyond the manicured surface of suburbia to a world of loss, longing, lust, and betrayal.

My Review - 3 1/2 stars

This is a sad one, happiness is surely sold separately, you will not find happiness in this book. I enjoy books that bring out the emotion of sadness, why you may ask, I don't know really. This was a story of marriage in crisis, for better, for worse, well oh my goodness for worse. Infertility, adultry, loss, grief, lust, betrayal, losing yourself, emotional turmoil, and a punch full of when bad things happen to good people. This book made me really think 'does everything really happen for a reason?'

The characters were great, the wife, the husband, the mistress, the mistress son and others were all believable. I liked them all in different ways. I didn't hate anyone, I felt like defending everyone with their choices, in my mind no wrong or right. Even the cheating, of course yes it is wrong but it didn't feel wrong.

This book would be impossible for some to read. Anyone that has had infertility issues, this would be heartbreaking. Anyone that lived the life of mistress I think you will understand. A single mom with 10 year old making requests that are impossible but they are too young to understand, wow that also.

I think I would have liked a little happiness in the ending but I still thought Lolly Winston did a great job on wrapping it up.

A teaser that says a lot....

'These houses are nice. Some of them come with swimming pools. Some have fancy kitchens and whirlpool bathtubs. None of them comes with happiness, though. None of them comes with babies.'

'Those amenities are sold separately.' .......Roger replies (the cleaner)

What I thought was the saddest - her husband was in this to death do us part, for better for worse, until the end, but she just withdrew and didn't realise she wasn't herself anymore. I felt sad for them.

This was such a real life touching story. I think this will make many cry and think about themselves or someone they know that is living this.

2 words - Heartbreakingly Beautiful

Also in 2008 this book was turned into a movie starring Julia Roberts. I just read the summary though, they had Julia be the one to committ adultery, sigh. Why do they change important facts from book to movie, so irritating.

Thank you for visiting Tea Time with Marce.

J. Kaye's What are you reading on Mondays.

Come over comment and network with J. Kaye and the blogging family.





http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/2010/01/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-january_25.html





I will finish tonight... Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston - you can see cover on sidebar, review should be up tomorrow.





Last week I finished, Lightning by Dean Koontz, here is my review http://teawithmarce.blogspot.com/2010/01/review-lightning-by-dean-koontz-on.html




Tonight I will start, Lessons from a Dead Girl









Book Summary

"Portrays the tense and finely crafted dynamics between two girls. . . .A razor-sharp examination of friendship, abuse, and secrets." — KIRKUS REVIEWS


Leah Greene is dead. For Laine, knowing what really happened and the awful feeling that she is, in some way, responsible set her on a journey of painful self-discovery. Yes, she wished for this. She hated Leah that much. Hated her for all the times in the closet, when Leah made her do those things. They were just practicing, Leah said. But why did Leah choose her? Was she special, or just easy to control? And why didn’t Laine make it stop sooner? In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laine is left to explore the devastating lessons Leah taught her, find some meaning in them, and decide whether she can forgive Leah and, ultimately, herself.


Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

EBook Reading Challenge (Kindle International)

 

I am excited to have found this challenge. I am new to the blogging scene and didn't really want to go overboard with the challenges so I am only participating in 3 including this one now. You can see on my sidebar the others.

I got a Kindle for Christmas so this should be easy. I am going for Obsessed - 20 E-books, I don't know if i'm obsessed with the kindle or what, lol I have the Kindle International as I live in Bermuda.

Go here to join -

http://alainereading.blogspot.com/2009/12/e-book-reading-challenge.htmlHere are the Challenge Guidelines:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.


2. There are four levels:

-- Curious – Read 3 E-Books.

-- Fascinated – Read 6 E-Books.

-- Addicted – Read 12 E-Books.

-- Obsessed – Read 20 E-Books.

3. Any genre counts.

4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010.

This will be fun - I am a new follower to Royal Reviews Blog. I will update later on what books I will read, these are one's I have already read.

Lightning by Dean Koontz http://teawithmarce.blogspot.com/2010/01/review-lightning-by-dean-koontz-on.html

and

Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess http://teawithmarce.blogspot.com/2010/01/review-such-pretty-girl-by-laura-wiess.html

and (this one was before Jan)

The Widow's Season by Laura Brodie http://teawithmarce.blogspot.com/2009/12/review-widows-season-by-laura-brodie.html

W...W...W... Wednesdays

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions! MizB hosts this one at http://www.shouldbereading.wordpress.com/






What are you currently reading?


You will see on my sidebar Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston


What did you recently finish reading?






Lightning by Dean Koontz, you can find my review here..... http://teawithmarce.blogspot.com/2010/01/review-lightning-by-dean-koontz-on.html

I gave it 4 1/2 stars







What do you think you’ll read next?



If you are a follower you would know i'm a total mood reader, so these are my contenders but they can always change :-)








Wake by Lisa McMann









Or








Manufactured Identity by Heath Sommer









Thanks again for visiting Tea Time with Marce. Now I need to go get some Earl Grey Tea :-)

Wake, Fade...... Giveaway over at Marq's Blog

Go over to Marq's to enter her contest, become a follower :-) http://lovetoreadforfun.blogspot.com

This is my first contest and I am so excited! I'm trying to reach the first of many milestones as a book blogger. The first milestone I want to reach is 100 followers. So to encourage everyone out there in the blogosphere to check me out, I'm offering a nice giveaway.

If you're already familiar with my blog, you will know that I've recently discovered and fallen in love with Lisa McMann's Dreamcatcher series. You can find my reviews here for Wake and here for Fade.

For my contest, I'm giving away Wake, Fade and *drumroll* Gone, the 3rd and final book in the Dreamcatcher series. Yes, I'm including Gone, even though it won't be released until February 9th which will give you an idea of how long the contest will last. Believe me, once you read Wake, you're going to want to immediately read Fade. Which means you'll want to immediately read Gone. That's how I felt when I finished Fade the other day. I can't believe I have to wait nearly a month to read the conclusion of Janie's story.

Great contest Marq

Teaser Tuesday - Happiness Sold Separately

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Happiness Sold Separately, Lolly Winston

pg. 124 I haven't actually started yet but will today.

If you're going to have a midlife crisis, you should have it in style. It should not involve a sobriety test in the rain in front of FedEx Kinko's, overwhelmed by the urge to pee from too much herbal tea, your patient spotting you and turning away with shame.

Summary

Elinor Mackey has lived her life in perfect order: college, law school, marriage, successful corporate career. But suddenly her world is falling apart. In her late 30s, she's discovered that she and her podiatrist husband, Ted, can't have children. When Elinor withdraws from Ted into an interior world of heartbreak and anger, Ted begins an affair with Gina, the nutritionist at their gym--a young woman with an oddball son who adores Ted. Meanwhile, Elinor falls in love with the oak tree in her front yard, spreading out her sleeping bag to sleep under the stars. Gina's jealous ex-boyfriend--a charming alcoholic with a mean streak--becomes a dark presence as his passion turns to violence. Ted, who may be the only one who can help Gina and her son, suddenly finds himself in love with two women at the same time.

Please leave a comment and come over to participate here.

http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/2010/01/19/teaser-tuesdays-jan-19/

Review - Lightning by Dean Koontz on Kindle

Suspense, Action/Adventure, A must read is what this is. I enjoyed all the characters in this book, they were real, interesting, I wanted to know what was next for them. This is an action packed story of Destiny. A quote from the book ‘Destiny struggles to reassert the pattern that was meant to be.’

Would you like to have a guardian angel watching over you, protecting you, choosing your destiny? This book was jammed packed with greatness, I could easily see this as a series but Dean Koontz gave it all at once.

I liked the fact that we follow Laura’s life from birth onwards. Her life journey seems like she doesn’t get any breaks but she begins to realize 3 things that are consistent, the trouble that follows her, lightning and her guardian angel. All the different emotions she goes through trying to figure out if she really has a guardian angel or has she imagined this savior during her times of being frightened, angry, shocked, confused and dealing with grief. Laura deals with so much in her story but I don’t want to spoil it for you, go out and buy this one if you have never tried a Dean Koontz book. It makes you think why do bad things happen to good people? And you understand how and why her savior loves and wants to protect her.

The only part I didn't enjoy that much was the detail into the guardian angels world, a bit to much history for my liking.

A brief teaser……..

She now knew that life was frighteningly subject to tragedy and change, blue and warm one moment, cold and stormy the next, so you never knew when a bolt of lightning might strike someone you cared about. Nothing lasts forever.

Oh another teaser………

In tragedy and despair, when an endless night seems to have fallen, hope can be found in the realization that the companion of night is not another night, that the companion of night is day, that darkness always gives way to light, and that death rules only half of creation, life the other half.

I give this one 4 1/2 stars

I read this for the Thriller and Suspense Challenge with Book Chick City. http://www.bookchickcity.com/2009/05/thriller-suspense-challenge-2010_01.html

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce, I appreciate any comments.

How do you rate a book you can't finish? Pondering thought...

“It is better to read a little and ponder a lot than to read a lot and ponder a little." quote by Denis Parsons Burkitt

I was wondering blogging friends, how do you rate books you do not finish? You don't like the characters, execution of story is bad, your bored, whatever your reason is, how do you rate it? 1 star, half a star or no rating at all?

And do you write a review about why you gave up on the book?

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce and commenting, I appreciate it.

Winner of Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Congratulations Lindsay - Crazy Books & Reviews Blog http://lindsayphotobook.blogspot.com/

The little extra surprise is that it is a brand new copy. I was so excited to read this, I received 2 copies, one from a friend and another from family.

How did I choose? 7 is my favourite number and Lindsay was the 7th follower to say she wanted my copy. I didn't think I was going to get 7 entries for awhile there :-)

Lindsay you have until Sunday evening to respond, if not I will randomly choose another winner.

--------------

This was the post....

I have decided to give my gently read book to one of my followers. If you would like to have it you just have to say "I want your copy" in the comments. I will announce winner next Thursday, Jan 14th.

I already have a number in my head for the winner, good luck.

BTW this is only for my current Followers as a small thank you. I appreciate you.

I am international so of course that includes everyone.

Mailbox Monday

I am going to try to stop buying books until I read the one's I have. This does NOT include kindle downloaded books :-) I get to share those with you weekly.


To participate and add to your TBR list go over to Marcia's blog here.

http://printedpage.us/2009/12/20/mailbox-monday-december-21st/

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do).

The last for me to order from the bookstore, I think.

Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles

&

Tell Me Something True by Leila Cobo

And on Kindle

Lightning by Dean Koontz which i'm reading now

&

Wake by Lisa McMann

Question for my followers - Would you like images of the books for this post also? I am at work and don't have time actually but good for me to know for future.

Have a great week and enjoy reading.

For International Bloggers

I just found this but thought what an amazing gesture. I'm international but do not have a problem getting books. Of course I would love to enter more contests but I understand the expense.

So if your international this is a must read.......

Introducting the International Book Blogger Mentor Program 2010

It can be tough to keep up with the book blogging community when you don’t live in the US or Canada. Publishers won’t send you books, most contests aren’t for you, and it can be next to impossible to find certain titles in your home country.

Over the past two years of book blogging, I’ve been very lucky about the amount of books I’ve received and I’ve passed a fair number of my books on to other bloggers in countries such as Vietnam, Pakistan, Scotland, Spain and of course Germany.

I would like to continue supporting international book bloggers and have decided to start the International Book Blogger Mentor Program. Any book blogger who blogs in English about books and lives outside the US and Canada can apply. Each month I will pick one blogger to send 2-3 of my most recent review copies to. Upon request, I will also look over the reviews you write for the books and suggest improvements. Once you post your first review, I will feature you and your blog on Presenting Lenore.

Go here to learn how to apply. http://www.presentinglenore.blogspot.com/

Review - Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess

I enjoyed this story, it was a fast and easy read about a difficult, sad situation. A fifteen year old girl, Meredith, lives with her mom and then after 3 years her dad is released from prison. He is a paedophile and Meredith was promised 9 years of safety. Meredith thought she would be able to escape at eighteen, have time to grow up and get out but her time has run out.

This is Meredith’s 4 day story immediately from her dad’s release.

With strict orders that he not be left alone with his daughter, he is returned to the condo complex where she and her mother live. In contrast to Meredith's terror, her mother is giddy with delight at his return, for better or worse is what she stands by no matter who gets hurt including her daughter and or other little boys and girls.

Such a sad story which makes the reader upset with her mother and the legal rules on really not protecting the young. This book can definitely start some good debates. How do moms stay with husbands, boyfriends etc when this happens and at what point will these criminals get life in prison for hurting a child in this way. I felt sorry for Meredith as she created normalcy for herself to get through the psychological scars.

Such a Pretty Girl is about a father's abuse of power and trust, and the way two different teens, Meredith and her paraplegic friend, Andy, deal with that reality. This book is not explicit, I personally would have enjoyed more details as I like to get emotional over books, but it definitely gives an honest feel in its telling.

There are messages and symbolic overtones that make it a great read for thinking.

And I am all about a great ending, this didn’t let me down, very clever. I have to say for the first time though, this story could have been longer I think.

For those that enjoyed Tomato Girl by Jayne Pupek, you will enjoy this, I recommend it. I am excited to have found a new author for me, Laura Wiess. I will read her other books, I enjoyed her writing.

3 1/2 stars

Friday Finds - Books by Laura Wiess

Friday Finds with MizB - to participate, network and get some ideas for possible reads go here http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/2010/01/08/friday-finds-jan-8/

What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!

Kari over at http://agoodaddiction.blogspot.com/ rated these books highly, I am currently reading Such a Pretty Girl and am enjoying it very much, definitiely look forward to reading all by the new author to me Laura Wiess.

Such a Pretty Girl - Published Jan 2007

Leftovers - Published Jan 2008

How it ends - Published August 2009

Have you read any of these books, would love to read your review or please leave a comment on how you rated it.

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce.

Do you want my copy of Uglies?

I have decided to give my gently read book to one of my followers. If you would like to have it you just have to say "I want your copy" in the comments. I will announce winner next Thursday, Jan 14th.

I already have a number in my head for the winner, good luck.

BTW this is only for my current Followers as a small thank you. I appreciate you.

I am international so of course that includes everyone.

Review - Uglies by Scott Westerfield

My Review

I was so excited to read this, I patiently waited for Jan 1st to start it. I knew it was out of my norm but all the reviews and something about the storyline completely intrigued me. I chose it also as one of my reads for the Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge hosted by Jennifer over Reading with Tequila - go here to join. http://readingwithtequila.blogspot.com/2009/11/book-blogger-recommendations-list-2009.html

The writing in this book is great and the execution perfection, there was a beginning, middle and end. Unfortunately for me I was just not interested, maybe I need to stay away from SF, Dystopia genres. I quickly got half way and just thought omg I just don't care but the writing is so good it was worth finishing. I'm glad to at least know what all the hype is about. I will not be continuing this series though. If you enjoy YA, SF and Dystopia and you haven't read it yet, it is a must. Also if your a Star Trek fan you will like, it totally made me think that for some reason, and i'm not a Treki but my ex was.

The story is about adventure and it takes you on a journey following Tally, the main character.

This is what is on back of the book.......

Tally is about to turn sixteen and she can't wait. In just a few weeks she'll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunning pretty. And as a pretty, she'll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun.

But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world - and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally's choice will change her world forever...

I give it 3 stars.

That is the best I could do for this review.

I can't wait for Thaw by Fiona Robyn

Blogger Friends,

I am really excited about reading this and wanted to make sure it was on your 2010 TBR list. We all love to add to the list don't we ;-)

Thaw by Fiona Robyn is the one I am excited about.

Summary

Ruth is thirty two years old and doesn't know if she wants to be thirty three. Her meticulously-ordered lonely life as a microbiologist is starved of pleasure and devoid of meaning. She decides to give herself three months to decide whether or not to end her life, and we read her daily diary as she struggles to make sense of her past and grapples with the pain of the present. "Thaw" explores what makes any of our lives worth living. Can Red, the eccentric Russian artist Ruth commissions to paint her portrait, find a way to warm her frozen heart?

Fiona Robyn is going to blog her next novel, Thaw, starting on the 1st of March next year. To help spread the word she’s organising a Blogsplash, where blogs will publish the first page of Ruth’s diary simultaneously (and a link to the blog). I am a part of this because her book completely intrigues me. Go over and sign up, we both have the chance of winning a signed copy of her book and a special gift. When you leave a comment or email Fiona, please mention my blog and name.


She’s aiming to get 1000 blogs involved – if you’d be interested in joining in, email her at fiona@fionarobyn.com or find out more information at http://www.fionarobyn.com/thawblogsplash.htm.

Thanks for visiting, it is always appreciated.

Internation Contest over I Should be Writing

Congrats to Valerie for getting 200 followers, Well Done. To join her contest go over to www.valeriekwrites.blogspot.com

Teaser Tuesday - Bad Mother

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. http://www.shouldbereading.wordpress.com/

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I am also reading Uglies by Scott Westerfield, but don't think that needs any Teasers, my review should be up by end of week.

Bad Mother - A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace by Aeylet Waldman

I'm reading on Kindle

Teaser - A Good Mother is never bored, is she? A good mother doesn't resent looking up from her novel to examine a child's drawing. She doesn't hide the finger paints because she can't stand the mess.

Book Description - a hilarious and controversial book that every woman will have an opinion about.

If you work, you’re neglectful; if you stay home, you’re smothering. If you discipline, you’re buying them a spot on the shrink’s couch; if you let them run wild, they will be into drugs by seventh grade. If you buy organic, you’re spending their college fund; if you don’t, you’re risking all sorts of allergies and illnesses.

Is it any wonder so many women refer to themselves at one time or another as “a bad mother”? Ayelet Waldman says it’s time for women to get over it and get on with it, in a book that is sure to spark the same level of controversy as her now legendary “Modern Love” piece, in which she confessed to loving her husband more than her children.

Covering topics as diverse as the hysteria of competitive parenting (Whose toddler can recite the planets in order from the sun?), the relentless pursuits of the Bad Mother police, balancing the work-family dynamic, and the bane of every mother’s existence (homework, that is), Bad Mother illuminates the anxieties that riddle motherhood today, while providing women with the encouragement they need to give themselves a break.

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

J. Kaye's What are you reading on Monday's

What am I reading now.....

So I anxiously waited for Jan 1st to start Uglies by Scott Westerfield :-0 I hate to admit it but its just ok for me, i'm half way finished. The writing is great but am I interested NO..... This was out of my norm so we will see. Hope to have the review up this week, I read approximately 1 book a week.

I finished last week......

The Widows Season, a mystery. I loved it.

What am I reading next....

I'm a mood reader so who knows, I have changed my mind 3 times already since starting Uglies.

Join in and network and even add some more books to your TBR list. Go Here to J. Kaye's Blog http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/

Thriller & Suspense Reading Challenge 2010

This was my very first challenge I joined being a new blogger. I love suspense so this should be easy for me.

You can still join in for this challenge. You can go to my sidebar or click here.

www.bookchickcity.com/2009/05/thriller-suspense-challenge-2010_01.html

You only have to choose 12 for the year, you can totally commit to that.

I look forward to sharing recommendations with you.

Here are my 12 for the challenge, I have chosen authors I have never read before also.

1. Ace of Hearts, Jean Holloway - completed

2. And Then There Were None, Agatha Christie

3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson

4. The Halo Effect, M. J. Rose - completed, no review

5. The Last Bridge, Teri Coyne - completed

6. To Close to Home, Linwood Barclay

7. The Manufactured Identity, Heath Sommer - completed, loved it

8. Bag of Bones, Stephen King

9. The Adderall Diaries, a Memoir of Moods, Masochism, and Murder by Stephen Ellio

10. Heartsick, Chelsea Cain - completed

11. The Splendor Falls, Rosemary Clement-Moore - abandoned

12. Leaving an opening space for my favourite author – Mary Higgins Clark

Look forward to everyone’s progress and reviews.