So excited, dropping everything to start Guardian of the Gate immediately

I have been on pins and needles since I got the email to say my preorder had been released and tonight I came home and YAAAAAAY its here.  I have never been reading something and put it down for another but this is how excited I am.

Aren't the Covers Gorgeous.....

Summary: (from Goodreads)


The ultimate battle between sisters is nearing, and its outcome could have catastrophic consequences. As sixteen year-old Lia Milthorpe searches for a way to end the prophecy, her twin sister Alice hones the skills she'll need to defeat Lia. Alice will stop at nothing to reclaim her sister's role in the prophecy, and that's not the only thing she wants: There's also Lia's boyfriend James.

Lia and Alice always knew the Prophecy would turn those closest to them against them. But they didn't know what betrayal could lead them to do. In the end, only one sister will be left standing.

My Review of The Prophecy of the Sisters

I am a part of the Book Tour (http://internationalbooktours.blogspot.com/) for Prophecy Sisters. I enjoyed this book so much I am sad that I have to pass it on, I will buy this one for my collection. (I did)  :-)

Prophecy Sisters reminded me of the show Charmed which I am a huge fan plus thriller and suspense is my favourite genre to read, so you guessed it I loved this story. The research of a prophecy, sibling rivalry, family history with drama and a love romance that was a secret to all….

Prophecy Sisters is a dark mystery, every chapter gave you a little more to the prophecy you are trying to figure out along with the Lia. The more she digs, researches the more the story captures you. The story is told from Lia’s point of view.

I want to share this passage with you, it is not a spoiler for the book. I had it bookmarked and constantly went back to it while reading. This definitely is a book to buy not to read on an ereader. Found in an old book and Lia’s boyfriend translated it for her.

Through fire and harmony mankind endured

Until the sending of

the Guards

Who took as wives and lovers the woman of

man,

Engendering His wrath.

Two sisters, formed in the same swaying

ocean,

One Guardian, One the Gate.

One keeper of peace,

The other

batering sorcery for devotion.

Cast from the heavens, the Souls were

Lost

As the Sisters continue the battle

Until the Gates summon

forth their return,

Or the Angel brings the Keys to the Abyss.

The

Army, marching forth through the Gates.

Samael, the Beast, through the

Angel.

The Angel, guarded only by the gossamer veil of protection.

Four

Marks, Four Keys, Circle of Fire

Birthed in the first breath of Samhain

In

the shadow of the Mystic Stone Serpent of Aubur.

Let the Angel's Gate swing

without the Keys

Followed by the Seven Plagues and No

Return.

Death

Famine

Blood

Fire

Darkness

Drought

Ruin

Open

your arms, Mistress of Chaos, that the havoc of the Beast will flow

like a

river

For all is lost when the Seven Plagues begin.

If this passage intrigues you at all, I recommend you pick this one up and enjoy the mysterious journey.

The two concerns I had that was odd to me was that it was set around the 1800’s, it felt modern to me and every time the period was mentioned I kind of raised my eyebrows but this wasn’t a big deal to me but it may be to others. Also, as much as I enjoyed all of the characters, Michelle Zink did a great job with them.

There was a major event that happened near the end and all except Lia didn’t seemed affected, it was just weird.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this one. Sometimes I found myself daydreaming after a chapter and trying to think ahead, twice I even said ‘I knew it”.

I gave it 4 ½ Great to the last drop.

Ok off to start Guardian of the Gate
 
 
Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Memoirs - This Genre is new to me

My first taste of this Genre was The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls and I really enjoyed it, I read it just before I started blogging but can still remember it.  I decided to try more, do you have any recommendations?

I am Currently Reading The Adderall Diaries: A Memoir of Moods, Masochism, and Murder

On Amazon From Publishers Weekly


As a writer stymied by past success, writers block, substance abuse, relationship problems and a serious set of father issues, Elliott's cracked-out chronicle of a bizarre murder trial amounts to less than the sum of its parts. Not long into the 2007 trial of programmer Hans Reiser, accused of murdering his wife, the defendant's friend Sean Sturgeon obliquely confessed to several murders (though not the murder of Reiser's wife). Elliott, caught up in the film-ready twist and his tenuous connection to Sturgeon (they share a BDSM social circle), makes a gonzo record of the proceedings. The result is a scattered, self-indulgent romp through the mind of a depressive narcissist obsessed with his insecurities and childhood traumas. Elliott is an undeniably good writer, but his voice has more to do with amphetamines than the author himself or the trial at hand. Elliott's frustration with himself is contagious; any readers expecting a true crime will be bewildered, and those familiar with Elliott (My Girlfriend Comes to the City and Beats Me Up) will find more (or less) of the same.



This Year I read My Review of The Prisoner's Wife

From Booklist


When one hears of a woman marrying a man in prison, especially a man she met while he was already in prison, it is hard not to question her motives or sanity. Poet asha bandele writes of her relationship with Rashid, a man serving 20-to-life for murder. She tells of how she met this man while she was visiting the prison to read her poetry; of how she visited him as a friend/lover, waiting five years before she married him; of waiting the long months after the marriage before they were granted a conjugal visit; of love letters, long collect phone calls, and the horror and indignity of their prison situation. Yet she found in Rashid the strength to remember and confront her past as a victim of sexual abuse. She found, too, the love that most women long for, but in a place that imposes limitations that are a nightmare. Her writing soars with emotion. And the reader's emotions soar as well, not because of a shared experience but because her highly polished and skillful writing makes one feel her pain and joy. This is a romantic but realistic story, told with a directness and honesty that make us know that however impossible the problems asha and Rashid face, we can question neither her motives nor her sanity.

I have added these two from recommendations.

Motherless Child - stories from a life

Imagine you gave a baby up for adoption forty years ago, and after years of trying to find her, she finds you. Now come the hard questions. She's healthy, beautiful, and successful, but she wants to know why you gave her away and why you didn't marry her father. And there is also the unspoken question of "What kind of black woman gives her baby away?" How do you explain to her that giving her away was the best gift you could offer? This is Sarah Weathersby's first published work, a coming-of-age-in-the-sixties-single-black-pregnant and on the way to Germany, memoir.




A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
 

In A LONG WAY GONE: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, Beah, now twenty-six years old, tells a powerfully gripping story: At the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he’d been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts. At sixteen, he was removed from fighting by UNICEF, and through the help of the staff at his rehabilitation center, he learned how to forgive himself, to regain his humanity, and, finally, to heal.


This is an extraordinary and mesmerizing account, told with real literary force and heartbreaking honesty.





Thank you for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Review - Crank by Ellen Hopkins (Verse Novel) on Kindle

Book Summary from Ellen Hopkins website

Ellen Hopkins wrote:  CRANK, is loosely based on my older daughter's story of addiction to crystal meth.

Crank began as a personal exploration of the "why's' behind my daughter's decisions, and what part I might have played in them.

By writing the story from "my daughter's" perspective, I learned a lot, both about her, and about myself.  But I also learned a lot about the nature of addiction, and the physiology of this particular substance.  For those struggling with similar addictions, there is help, but the road to recovery is not easy.  The addict has to want to get well.  Rehabilitation cannot be forced.

For those who love someone struggling with addiction, learn as much as you can about how a substance works on the brain.  This will help divorce you from the overwhelming emotion involved.


My Review - Good to the Last Drop

I thoroughly enjoyed this book but wished it wasn't in Verse, that part didn't really do it for me but the story was amazing, you go through emotions reading this.  Anger, disgust, and sympathy were my main feelings and this is how the author won me over, I enjoy going through emotions when reading a story.

Kristina starts using meth which is called The Monster, Crank, and then she becomes Bree, the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other shoulder is Kristina.

It was quite interesting how we heard from Kristina or Bree and the back and fourth, pull and push, but the Bree on Crank always won over.

The story of the downward spiral of destruction felt so real and was quite an eye opener.  As a parent it made me question what I would do.  I tell myself I would ask my child if they were on drugs and if I felt all the signs were there I would somehow get them tested and get the help they needed.  This is what I tell myself but of course you never know until you are in the hard situation and have to make the decision.  So many story lines were just so unbelievable but I am not naive and know they are true and happen ever day, sad sad sad.

This is a dark story but one that is so important.

Here is a verse passage.

Did it show?

I mean I'd
thought
about
the monster
lusted
for
the monster
regretted
knowing
the monster
but I hadn't
touched
the monster
in over a month.
Hadn't even seen it.
Thought I might be over it.
Was it still alive in me?
Could it still have such
a solid hold on me?


I have to say I think Verse Novels are becoming my simple pleasures.  Lisa Schroeders books were my first taste and I love them. Do you have any to recommend?

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

NPR Audience Picks - Top 100 Killer Thrillers

The NPR audience nominated some 600 novels to our "Killer Thrillers" poll and cast more than 17,000 ballots. to continue reading go here

The Winner: The Silence Of The Lambs by Thomas Harris beat out two other serial killer books -- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and Kiss the Girls by James Patterson -- for the No. 1 spot.


Here is the List - I have watched a ton of the movies, I need to get to reading. Stephen King is my brothers favourite author so I have access to all those books to read.  There are a few I am not interested in though, eg. Dan Brown.
 
1. The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris (My ultimate favourite movie) 4 1/2


2. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

3. Kiss the Girls, by James Patterson

4. The Bourne Identity, by Robert Ludlum

5. In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote

6. The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown

7. The Shining, by Stephen King

8. And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie 4

9. The Hunt tor Red October, by Tom Clancy  (My boyfriends favourite movie)

10. The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

11. Dracula, by Bram Stoker  3

12. The Stand, by Stephen King (Watched Movie)

13. The Bone Collector, by Jeffery Deaver  4

14. Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton

15. Angels & Demons, by Dan Brown

16. A Time to Kill, by John Grisham

17. The Andromeda Strain, by Michael Crichton

18. Mystic River, by Dennis Lehane

19. The Day of the Jackal, by Frederick Forsyth

20. Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier  5 (A favourite of all time)

21. Eye of the Needle, by Ken Follett

22. It, by Stephen King (DNF, not my cup of tea)

23. The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas

24. The Girl Who Played with Fire, by Stieg Larsson (DNF, not my cup of tea)

25. Jaws, by Peter Benchley

26. The Alienist, by Caleb Carr

27. Red Dragon, by Thomas Harris

28. Presumed Innocent, by Scott Turow

29. The Maltese Falcon, by Dashiell Hammett

30. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson

31. No Country For Old Men, by Cormac McCarthy

32. Gone Baby Gone, by Dennis Lehane

33. Gorky Park, by Martin Cruz Smith

34. Rosemary's Baby, by Ira Levin

35. Subterranean, by James Rollins

36. Clear and Present Danger, by Tom Clancy (Watched Movie)

37. Salem's Lot, by Stephen King (TBR)

38. Shutter Island, by Dennis Lehane  3

39. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, by John Le Carre

40. The Poet, by Michael Connelly

41. The Boys from Brazil, by Ira Levin

42. Cape Fear, by John MacDonald

43. The Bride Collector, by Ted Dekker

44. Pet Sematary, by Stephen King

45. Dead Zone, by Stephen King

46. The Manchurian Candidate, by Richard Condon

47. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, by John Le Carre

48. The Talented Mr. Ripley, by Patricia Highsmith

49. Tell No One, by Harlan Coben

50. Consent to Kill, by Vince Flynn

51. The 39 Steps, by John Buchan

52. Blowback, by Brad Thor

53. The Children of Men, by P.D. James

54. 61 Hours, by Lee Child

55. Marathon Man, by William Goldman

56. The Woman in White, by Wilkie Collins

57. 206 Bones, by Kathy Reichs

58. Psycho, by Robert Bloch  5

59. The Killing Floor, by Lee Child

60. Rules of Prey, by John Sandford

61. The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins  3 1/2 (Movie 5)

62. In the Woods, by Tana French

63. Shogun, by James Clavell

64. The Relic, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child  4 1/2

65. Intensity, by Dean Koontz

66. Casino Royale, by Ian Fleming

67. Metzger's Dog, by Thomas Perry

68. Timeline, by Michael Crichton

69. Contact, by Carl Sagan

70. What the Dead Know, by Laura Lippman

71. The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

72. The Cabinet of Curiosities, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

73. Charm School, by Nelson DeMille

74. Feed, by Mira Grant

75. Gone Tomorrow, by Lee Child

76. Darkly Dreaming Dexter, by Jeff Lindsay  2

77. The Secret History, by Donna Tartt

78. The First Deadly Sin, by Lawrence Sanders

79. Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stephenson

80. The Brotherhood of the Rose, by David Morrell

81. Primal Fear, by William Diehl

82. The Templar Legacy, by Steve Berry [tie]

82. The Hard Way, by Lee Child [tie]

84. The Last of the Mohicans, by James Fenimore Cooper

85. Six Days of the Condor, by James Grady

86. Fail-Safe, by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler

87. Strangers on a Train, by Patricia Highsmith

88. The Eight, by Katherine Neville

89. The Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown

90. Goldfinger, by Ian Fleming

91. Bangkok 8, by John Burdett

92. The Kill Artist, by Daniel Silva

93. Hardball, by Sara Paretsky

94. The Club Dumas, by Arturo Perez-Reverte

95. The Deep Blue Good-by, by John MacDonald

96. The Monkey's Raincoat, by Robert Crais

96. Berlin Game, by Len Deighton [tie]

98. A Simple Plan, by Scott Smith

99. Child 44, by Tom Rob Smith

100. Heartsick, by Chelsea Cain 3 1/2


So do you have any recommendations that you think I should add to my TBR list?  Go over to Stacy's Books to see her comments on the list, she recommends # 98.

Read 11 - 2 DNF = 13 (updated Jan 2013)

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Announcement - The Queen of Suspense Challenge - Join In (Sept - Aug 2011)

Welcome to Tea Time with Marce

Mary Higgins Clark, The Queen of Suspense, is my favourite author and has been for over 10 years. This is a personal challenge for me, I want to rate all of her books so I can say which one is my favourite.  I only have 13 Hardcovers on my bookshelf and my goal is to have all of them in Hardcover.  I have her new one, The Shadow of your Smile and will start it on Sept 1st to begin the challenge.  Please Join In.

Challenge Dates:  September 1, 2010 - August 31, 2011

Details:

* If you participate in this challenge please signup below and do a post in order to get word out so we can have more bloggers join in and to network with.  Please link back to this post with your direct link to your intro challenge post, not just your blog link.

* You do not have to list the chosen books ahead of time and your choices can crossover into other challenges you have joined.

*  You can join anytime before next year Aug, this challenge is to make a fan out of you and to share thoughts and discussions about the Queen of Suspense from those who are already a fan. 

* All forms of books will count - eBooks, Audiobooks, etc

* Rereads do count towards this challenge, as that is the main idea for me.  Also, the collaboration with her daughter Carol Higgins Clark will count.

Level of Participation

2 Books -  New to Mary Higgins Clark
3 Books -  Reacquainting myself with Mary Higgins Clark
6 Books -  Rating my Love for Mary Higgins Clark (If you have read her new one already, I will allow this to be included towards the total 6 for this category only)

Go here to Post Reviews

List of Mary Higgins Clark books

All participants that have at least one review posted when Mary Higgins Clark releases her next book will be added into an International Giveaway to win the Hardcover.  I will do a post to link your reviews on September 1st.



Biography of the Queen of Suspense

Mary Higgins Clark's books are world-wide bestsellers. In the U.S. alone, her books have sold over one hundred million copies.

She is the author of twenty-nine previous suspense novels. Her first book, a biographical novel about George Washington, was re-issued with the title, Mount Vernon Love Story, in June 2002. Her memoir, Kitchen Privileges, was published by Simon & Schuster in November 2002. Her first children's book, Ghost Ship, illustrated by Wendell Minor, was published in April 2007 as a Paula Wiseman Book/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
She is co-author, with her daughter Carol Higgins Clark, of five holiday suspense novels Deck the Halls (2000), He Sees You When You're Sleeping (2001), The Christmas Thief (2004), Santa Cruise (2006), and Dashing through the Snow (2008).

Mary Higgins Clark was chosen by Mystery Writers of America as Grand Master of the 2000 Edgar Awards. An annual Mary Higgins Clark Award sponsored by Simon & Schuster, to be given to authors of suspense fiction writing in the Mary Higgins Clark tradition, was launched by Mystery Writers of America during Edgars week in April 2001. She was the 1987 president of Mystery Writers of America and, for many years, served on their Board of Directors. In May 1988, she was Chairman of the International Crime Congress.

NOTE

If you have any great Mary Higgins Clark posts - interviews, reviews etc, please email as I would like to feature a MHC post monthly.

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Review - The Sculptor by Gregory Funaro on Kindle

Book Summary

Killing Is An Art

In life, they were flawed. In death, they are perfect works of art--killed, preserved, and carefully molded into replicas of Michelangelo's most celebrated creations. Only The Sculptor can bring forth their true beauty and teach the world to appreciate his gift.

He Is The Master

FBI Special Agent Sam Markham has a reputation for tracking serial killers, but this artful adversary is meticulous, disciplined, and more ruthless than any he's encountered. The only clue is a note dedicating the latest "statue" to Cathy Hildebrant, an art historian who shares Sam's fear that the killing has just begun.
And She Is The Perfect Subject

In a quiet Rhode Island town, The Sculptor shapes his latest macabre creation, waiting for Cathy to draw nearer so that his message can be understood at last. And the only way to save her is for Sam to unlock a psychopath's twisted mind before his final, terrifying masterpiece is revealed. . .

My Review - 4 Good to the Last Drop
 
I enjoyed this one, it is creepy, graphic and disturbing, in my opinion not scary though.  OMG the beginning really grabbed me, The Michelangelo Killer creating amazing sculptures to display and it was people inside of them, WOW.  The description in the book had you right there with the victims, being tortured by The Sculptor, but with love and perfection.
 
 

 
The serial killer used a book as his motivation and the detectives used this through out the investigation and the author went into detail of art history, I thought this was good and I enjoyed it but it may be a bit to much detail for others.  Everyone having different interpretations and trying to figure out the Michelangelo Killer was interesting, I kind of wish I had it also.
 
The suspense I enjoyed was the huge WHY and in the ending the author did an amazing job at bringing it all together.  I did find the the whole scene when they met the Sculptor completely unbelievable but still enjoyable. 
 
I would love to discuss this one further with any bloggers that have read or will read it.  I enjoyed the premise, I was completely intrigued.
 
This is one for the true fans of the Thriller Genre.
 
Amazon recommended this one to me, I am pleased with the recommendations they give me from what I choose to read.
 
 
Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce
 
 
 
 

Countdown to Blogversary - Ideas, What do you think?

I just realised August was my blog anniversary date.  I did my 1st intro post on August 29 when I had no idea what I was doing or even wanted to do with my blog.  I got my 1st comment on September 3.

So I am thinking about what I should do for my Blogversary. I will announce everything on Sunday, Aug 29.

Here are some of my ideas:

• Start my own Challenge, I don't want to announce it yet but wanted ask YOU, should I start a new challenge running Sept 1, 2010 to August 31, 2011 or December 1, 2010 to November 30, 2011?
• Start a new meme as I get excited about something everytime I read a book but haven't seen anyone discuss it.  Are you tired of meme's or happy to see new one's?  I would probably choose Thursday's. I am happy to take a risk of it being a Hit or a Miss.
• Of course I will hold an International Giveaway, not sure about details yet but it will run from Aug 29 to Sept 3.

Sorry about being vague, but don't want to give all the details and then decide to wait and the idea be implemented by someone else.

It is exciting to see that in 1 year I am very close to getting 200 followers.  I am still learning new things and I am so excited Blogger assisted with making hyperlinks easy, I totally could not get it even with the help of a few bloggers, hahaha

Reading is my escape from the stress but now blogging and networking with you has become my addiction, my simple pleasure, that I never want to give up.

So if your choice was between A New Challenge or A New Meme what would you choose?

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

Teaser Tuesday - The Sculptor

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





Just do the following and go here to participate: Teaser Tuesday

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

My Review from last weeks Teaser - Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia

My Teaser is from The Sculptor by Gregory Funaro

On Kindle at 30%

But how do you tell a mother her son has been sawed in half?  How do you tell a mother her child has been given a pair of goat's legs and been stuffed to look like a devil?

I am really enjoying this thriller, I love a good serial killer book, if you have recommendations, please leave them in comments.

Summary from Amazon

Killing Is An Art

In life, they were flawed. In death, they are perfect works of art--killed, preserved, and carefully molded into replicas of Michelangelo's most celebrated creations. Only The Sculptor can bring forth their true beauty and teach the world to appreciate his gift.

He Is The Master
FBI Special Agent Sam Markham has a reputation for tracking serial killers, but this artful adversary is meticulous, disciplined, and more ruthless than any he's encountered. The only clue is a note dedicating the latest "statue" to Cathy Hildebrant, an art historian who shares Sam's fear that the killing has just begun.
And She Is The Perfect Subject
In a quiet Rhode Island town, The Sculptor shapes his latest macabre creation, waiting for Cathy to draw nearer so that his message can be understood at last. And the only way to save her is for Sam to unlock a psychopath's twisted mind before his final, terrifying masterpiece is revealed. . .

 
I look forward to reading your Teaser.
 
Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

It's Monday What Are you Reading? The Sculpture by Gregory Funaro

It's Monday, and it's time for What are you Reading, hosted by Sheila over on Book Journey


Go over and network, Sheila also has an incentive to having fun while networking and adding to your TBR list. You get to enter to win a prize, just for networking, how cool is that.


I'm currently reading The Sculptor Summary from Amazon - it is so good so far.

Killing Is An Art


In life, they were flawed. In death, they are perfect works of art--killed, preserved, and carefully molded into replicas of Michelangelo's most celebrated creations. Only The Sculptor can bring forth their true beauty and teach the world to appreciate his gift.

He Is The Master

FBI Special Agent Sam Markham has a reputation for tracking serial killers, but this artful adversary is meticulous, disciplined, and more ruthless than any he's encountered. The only clue is a note dedicating the latest "statue" to Cathy Hildebrant, an art historian who shares Sam's fear that the killing has just begun.

And She Is The Perfect Subject

In a quiet Rhode Island town, The Sculptor shapes his latest macabre creation, waiting for Cathy to draw nearer so that his message can be understood at last. And the only way to save her is for Sam to unlock a psychopath's twisted mind before his final, terrifying masterpiece is revealed. . .


I started The Husband by Dean Koontz, i'll go back to this one, it wasn't grabbing me.


I finished Buying Time Review 4 1/2 stars


I am a mood reader but these are on my mind for what may be next:

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens
A Verse Novel either Crank by Ellen Hopkins or a Lisa Schroder

So what was your favourite read from last week and what are you reading now?

Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Wrap Up Post for To Kill a Mockingbird

So we are at the end of the 50th Anniversary month for To Kill a Mockingbird and this will be my wrap up post.

If you had any TKAM post from this month, please leave a link in the comments.

My Review  My first time reading this classic

Here is my discussion and thoughts:

What was your first impression while reading?


I had a hard time getting into it, then I started enjoying Scout and Atticus, they are my favourite characters for sure. 

Who is your favourite character?

Atticus, high morals and listened to his kids, what an amazing role model in the book and for us.

Did you note a favourite scene, what was it about?

When it started snowing, the reactions and the building of the snowman, that was a priceless moment for me.

&

I love the gifts in the tree, I was heartbroken along with them when the hole was cemented up.


&

The way children where treated made me smile.  What a great book discussion for a group on what children where allowed to hear then to all they are allowed to see and hear these days.  We would have to live in a bubble, lol

Also childhood memories came from words like this being used - roly-poly and sayings 'Angel bright, life-in-death; get off the road, don't suck my breath' so adorable and cute.
Did you note a favourite quote, please share?  Here are mine.

said Atticus, "but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."  pg 120

Everybody in Maycom , it seemed, had a Streak; a Drinking Streak, a Gambling Streak, a Mean Streak, a Funny Streak.  pg. 147  (I had to smile with all the judgements in the book)

Court closing Remarks, the reason I believe this book is an amazing classic, it just speaks volumes - But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal - there is one human instituition that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the stupid man the equal of an Einstein, and the ignorant man the equal of any college president.  The institution, gentlemen, is a court.  It can be the Supreme Court of the United States or the humblest J.P. court in the land, or this honorable court which you serve.  Our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but in this country our courts are the great levelers, and in our courts all men are created equal. pg. 233

If you had to come up with a different title for TKAM, what would it be?

The judgements stayed with me so I would choose - The Streaks of Maycom


So there you have it, Tea Time with Marce's thoughts on To Kill a Mockingbird.  I gave it 4 stars, Great to the Last Drop.


Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Book Hop - New to Me Favourite Author

Welcome to Tea Time with Marce

This weeks question - Who is your favorite new-to-you author so far this year?



Blogging is new to me, almost a year and has introduced me to so many books so there are a few but the one that was most similar to my favourite author Mary Higgins Clark would be Pamela Samuels Young.  I really enjoyed her Thriller Suspense book Buying Time, so I look forward to reading all of works now.

To get a better feel for my style to decide if you would like to follow me is to look at my favourite books so far this year post


Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

What Type of Reader Are You? Quiz

What Type of Reader Are You? Your Result: The Down-to-Earth Reader You like realistic fiction the most. If it really can happen, that's appealing to you. You like being able to relate to and sympathize with the characters.
The Fun Reader
The Mysterious Reader
The Master Reader
The Fantastical Reader
What Type of Reader Are You? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

I'm a Down To Earth Reader

I thought this was a fun accurate quiz, I love to read but don't take it to serious, but do enjoy laid back conversations about books.  Mystery and Thriller is my favourite Genre.

I saw this over on Trisha's blog eclectic-eccentric.com and her result was being A Dedicated Reader

Go here to take quiz and tell me your result.


Thanks for visiting Tea Time with Marce

Review - Buying Time by Pamela Samuels Young

Summary/Back Cover

Waverly Shaw is a down-on-his-luck lawyer who stumbles upon a potentially lucrative business just when he's about to hit rock bottom. In his new line of work as a viatical broker, Waverly comes to the rescue of people in desperate need of cash. There's a catch, however, his clients must be terminally ill and willing to sign over rights to their life insurance policies before they receive a dime. Waverly then finds investors to advance them thousands of dollars—including a hefty broker's fee for himself—in exchange for a significant return on their investment once the clients take their last breath. The stakes get higher when Lawrence Erickson, who's bucking to become the next U.S. Attorney General, hires Waverly to broker the insurance policy of his cancer-stricken wife. But Waverly's clients start dying sooner than they should, and Erickson—who has some skeletons of his own to hide—is unwittingly drawn into a perilous web of greed, blackmail, and murder. With two determined federal prosecutors hot on his trail, Waverly is on the run, and this time he might need some life insurance.


My Review - 4 1/2 Great to the Last Drop
 
This was a great thriller suspense story.  I am upset I was so busy that I couldn't read this as often as I wanted.  One night it was 1am but the ending of a chapter was so good I couldn't get it out of my head, I got back up and read a few more, this is how good it is.  For those that read fast you will enjoy reading this is one or two sittings.
 
Every character was interesting and it was the perfect amount, sometime authors introduce to many characters.  Every one had an important piece to the puzzle.  At first Erickson was my favourite and slowly throughout the book he lost my respect and I despised him, very similar to his protege's feelings who plays a major part.  There were numerous storylines that completely came together in the end.  The chapters were short, glimpses into each characters life, their piece of the puzzle.  We had work ethics, morals, murder, the legal world, politics, romance, family drama, all with a ton of suspense, making bad choices, disturbing choices and sometimes bad things happening to good people scenarios.  Pamela SY did a great job with character building, so for those that love characters you will totally appreciate.
 
What really caught my interest is that this is a book men would enjoy also, the male testosterone fast paced action in this thriller gets your attention.  There are also Angela and Dre, I really enjoyed their storyline also, Dre was a favourite character for me.  A man's man, a little rough around the edges but had a business mind and knew how to treat a woman with respect.
 
I look forward to sharing this book with friends with similar styles and the best part is I loved everything about her writing so I found a new author and look forward to reading her other books.

The title was also perfect and I enjoyed how it was used in the story.
 
Another review by dArLyN& & bOoKs
 
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Completed eBook Challenge - 20 books

I got a Kindle for Christmas and immediately chose the Obsessed category - 20 E-books.

Here are my Kindle discussions: 
I confess... Love my Kindle more than books 
&
Kindle Product Review

These were the levels:

-- Curious – Read 3 E-Books.

-- Fascinated – Read 6 E-Books.

-- Addicted – Read 12 E-Books.

-- Obsessed – Read 20 E-Books.

Challenge s from January 1st thru December, 2010.

Here is my list, they are in the order of the month I read them.

I highlighted my Top 5.  Note - I realised that out of this 20 only 10 I would have risked buying, so the Kindle has been a fabulous new part of my life.

1. Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia 3 1/2 stars July
2. Horns by Joe Hill 3 1/2 stars July
3. The Murderer's Daughters by Randy Susan Meyers 3 1/2 stars June
4. Sexaholics by Pynk 3 stars June
5. Gone by Lisa McMann 3 1/2 stars June
6. Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper 5 stars May
7. Dead Game by Jennifer Chase 4 stars May
8. Motherhood is Murder by Diana Orgain 4 stars April
9. Letter to my Daughter by George Bishop 4 stars April
10. Th1rteen R3asons Why by Jay Asher 3 stars March
11. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk 3 1/2 stars March
12. Far From You by Lisa Schroeder 4 1/2 stars March
13. Fade by Lisa McMann 4 1/2 stars March
14. The Last Bridge by Teri Coyne 4 1/2 stars March
15. I heart you, You haunt me by Lisa Schroeder 5 stars Feb
16. Heartsick by Chelsea Cain 3 1/2 stars Feb
17. Wake by Lisa McMann 4 1/2 stars Feb
18. The Wednesday Letters by Jason Wright 4 1/2 stars Jan
19. Lightning, Dean Koontz 4 1/2 stars Jan
20. Such a Pretty Girl, Laura Wiess 3 1/2 stars Jan

Do you read old reviews?  Would you have liked for me to have linked all of them?

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