Libraries Enrich Lives...

For better or for worse, I am not an overly active political person. I do not protest; I am not one to write my representative. I know that I probably should become more active on the political front, as I cannot impact any changes if I do not speak up and let my opinions be known. (I do vote, so at least I have one thing going for me.)

This week, I discovered the cause to finally help me find my voice. A few weeks ago, I hoped to visit the local public library while my son was in his piano lesson across the street. I was thoroughly confused when I noticed that the library was closed for the day...on a Friday. It made no sense to me, and I expressed my consternation on Twitter that night. A few days later, I receive a note home from Holly's school that helped shed some light on the subject. It was a public service announcement about the pending vote on a public library levy. 

It seems that due to lack of funds, the local library system cut open hours to only 47 hours per week and have laid off 21 employees. In addition, materials purchased to meet certain specific needs have been eliminated as well as some services. Even though circulation of books and other items were up by 15 percent last year, as in prior years, the state cut funding for the library systems by 11 percent, on top of general reduction in funding of 20 percent.

This entire situation makes me absolutely sick to my stomach. Middletown, Ohio is not a pretty town. It is strictly blue collar, servicing the nearby steel plant, and has undergone a severe decline over the years as people migrate to more affluent neighborhoods in the surrounding area. The area does not have much in the way of safe hangouts for locals; to lose the library, which is a safe haven for many residents, is a huge blow.

I may not be the largest user of the library these days but I do recognize the importance of having access to them. It saddens me that our public officials even consider cutting such services, but it is extremely disheartening knowing that the library system will have to fight to get the levy approved by voters. Why are people blind to the need for tax increases, especially when governments are cutting service after service to try to fit their budget restraints? When it comes to school funding or library funding, why should there even be a discussion? It behooves all citizens to vote for such funding because it only adds to the local area, attracting new citizens and businesses, improving commerce and bringing in new revenue for additional services. The harmful impact of not voting for such funding far outweighs the tax increase.

It is time for others to realize that if we hope to stay competitive in an increasingly global economy, if we hope to remain among the top nations in the world in military, economic and political influence, it starts in our backyards, with good schools and libraries to help support a nation of learning and culture of education. No library should have to cut services to meet budget restraints. The long-term repercussions are too dangerous to allow this to happen.

Libraries Enrich Lives is the organization that is lobbying for the pending levy in this area.  It is such an apt title, don't you think?  Libraries do indeed enrich lives, as long as they remain open. 

REVIEW - Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Title:  Life of Pi

Author:  Yann Martel

No. of Pages:  319

First Released:  2001

Synopsis (Courtesy of Joseph-Beth Booksellers): " The son of a zookeeper, Pi Patel has an encyclopedic knowledge of animal behavior and a fervent love of stories. When Pi is sixteen, his family emigrates from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship, along with their zoo animals bound for new homes.

The ship sinks. Pi finds himself alone in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and Richard Parker, a 450-pound Bengal tiger. Soon the tiger has dispatched all but Pi, whose fear, knowledge, and cunning allow him to coexist with Richard Parker for 227 days while lost at sea. When they finally reach the coast of Mexico, Richard Parker flees to the jungle, never to be seen again. The Japanese authorities who interrogate Pi refuse to believe his story and press him to tell them "the truth." After hours of coercion, Pi tells a second story, a story much less fantastical, much more conventional--but is it more true?"

Comments and Critique:  While Mr. Martel has been making waves with his latest release, I finally took the time to read his most famous work, the one for which he earned the Booker Prize.  Now that I have finished it, I can honestly say that Life of Pi is worth every accolade it received.  This unbelievably fantastic story has so many layers, I have only begun to unravel them all.

The writing is amazing - crisp and clean, every word carefully chosen for maximum impact.  The effect is a story that comes alive with no extraneous verbiage.  Mr. Mantel provokes the reader's senses with these well-chosen words.  Pi's terror/ despair/ joy/ innocence becomes the reader's terror/ despair/ joy/ innocence.  The reader can smell the salt air, feel the wind, hear the growls of Richard Parker, see the unending horizon of ocean, and taste the deliciousness that is water when one is dehydrated.  Life of Pi is not just a reading pleasure, it becomes an adventure of the senses.

The story itself forces the reader to make his or her own conclusions about religion and about life.  Pi's curiosity and unique life perspective is humbling in its simple message of coexistence, with nature and among the various religions.  Does Life of Pi make you believe in God, as the narrator suggests?  I believe it depends on the individual reader, how faith-driven he or she already is.  For me, I remain undecided as to whether God helped keep him alive or if it was his own doing, for I was taught that God helps those who help themselves.  No matter what I finally end up believing, I remain in awe of Pi's perserverence.  Is is superhuman or the fight or flight instinct that helps him survive? 

Two weeks after finishing the book, many questions still remain.  Are humans really better than animals?  Which of Pi's stories should we believe?  Does it matter in the end?  Should it matter?  Because of this ambiguity, I remain entranced with Pi and his story.  There is plenty of food for thought, which I firmly believe is a sign of an excellent book.  Answers should never be easy, for we as a society do not learn from the easy answers.  In Life of Pi, Mr. Martel provides plenty of questions about life, about religion, about human's place in the world, and about socitey, with very little answers.  Finding those answers is part of the enjoyment of the novel.  The other part is just sitting back and experiencing Pi's story. 

I cannot recommend this book highly enough.  It is one of the few books that had me exclaiming aloud, gasping in fear, and other various verbal outbursts.  Upon finishing, I thrust it into my husband's hands, demanding that he read it immediately.  I only regret I had not read Life of Pi earlier. 

This books meets the requirements of the 100+ Reading Challenge, the Read 'n Review Challenge, and, because my kids chose this book for me to read, the Random Reads Challenge.  I purchased this with my own money and do not regret it a bit!

REVIEW - City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Title:  City of Bones

Author:  Cassandra Clare

No. of Pages:  485

First Released:  2007

Synopsis (Courtesy of Joseph-Beth Booksellers):  "Their hidden world is about to be revealed....

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it's hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary.

Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...."

Comments and Critique: I have begun to realize that while the Read-a-Thon was fun and allowed me to finish several books I have been wanting to read for several months, it did nothing for my enjoyment of said novels.  Honestly, I found that the later in the evening I read the book, my enjoyment of the novel diminished severely.  I am very saddened by this, as I happened to finish City of Bones about an hour before I finally went to bed that night.  I had very high hopes about this book; I had even heard comparisons between Peeta from The Hunger Games to Jace.  I was very excited to determine the comparison for myself.

Unfortunately, either because of my exhaustion, my high hopes, or general malaise, City of Bones did not live up to my expectations.  Jace does not hold a candle to Peeta, in my opinion (or Edward or even Jacob).  He seemed too jaded, too impetuous for me to really be able to enjoy him as a character.  In addition, the demon and the Shadowhunter relationship was just not that scary to me.  I never truly feared for any of the character's lives, nor was I concerned about their future fate.  Rather, the allegory for tolerance that was their relationship seemed flat and uninspired.  It was a bit too lecture-like versus a subtle lesson that needles itself under the skin.

As for the characters themselves, I found them all rather one-dimensional.  Even though Clary is strong, determined and brave, almost bull-headed, she is too black and white; everything is either right or wrong with no room for middle ground.  This is a completely inaccurate method of looking at the world and put me off Clary more than I would have liked.  Simon was the stereotypical sidekick, a la Duckie in Pretty in Pink, Jace the stereotypical mysterious romantic lead, Clary the strong but conflicted heroine who always requires rescuing.  I hate to say it but City of Bones was a bit too formulaic.

That is not to say that it did not hold its share of pleasant surprises.  The romantic tangles took quite an interesting twist, one I will admit I did not see coming.  Honestly, even three weeks after finishing, I have no final thoughts on that twist.  Part of me is somewhat upset that Ms. Clare would raise the reader's hopes regarding the relationship only to dash them so profusely in the end.  Part of me is concerned that she would hint at such a relationship.  Yet, a third part of me does not care enough about the characters to be overly affected by the final relationships.  The conclusion of the book was also a pleasant surprise.  It was not overly predictable and kept me awake in those wee hours of the night.  (That in and of itself is a remarkable feat.)

The key to any novel, and a reader's overall feelings about the novel, is whether the reader would want to continue reading, should the novel be a series.  In the case of City of Bones, I will admit that continuing the series is not my highest priority.  I would not and have not added the second book to my wish list.  Rather, should I ever cross the threshold of my local library again, I may (or may not) borrow it from the library one day.  Again, it would not be at the top of my must-be-borrowed list.

However, I will freely admit that I probably was not in the greatest frame of mind when I finished the novel.  City of Bones remains an extremely popular novel among YA and YA enthusiasts.  I can definitely see why it would be popular among that set.  It has all the hallmarks of popular YA fiction.  Therefore, I will say that in this instance, you should not necessarily consider my opinion about this book.  Read in the haze of the April Read-a-Thon, my overall impression was definitely impaired by the lack of sleep and having read four other YA books during the previous twelve hours.

So I throw myself into the arms of my readers.  Should I give the series another chance?  Are my impressions indeed biased due to exhaustion?  Or did others find the same faults?  Please share your thoughts!

REVIEW - Soulless by Gail Carriger

Title:  Soulless

Author:  Gail Carriger

No. of Pages:  357

First Released:  2009

Synopsis (Courtesy of Joseph-Beth Booksellers): "Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?"

Comments and Critique:  I love this book!  To say it was a refreshing antidote to overly sappy Victorian novels is an understatement.  I'll admit that I had my doubts.  I mean, the book was all but thrust into my hands by an extremely enthusiastic sales clerk at Borders in Wayzata, Minnesota.  He gushed about the book so much that I could not say no.  Still, I was hesitant to read it; I knew nothing about the sales clerk, and he knew nothing about me other than I liked vampire tales.  Could one brief sentence be enough on which to base a recommendation?  In this instance, the answer is yes, absolutely.  Soulless is well worth the recommendation. 

I adore Alexia and her pragmatic approach to life.  She mocks the very essence of the Victorian social mores with her no-nonsense, common sense view of life.  A reader quickly realizes that she is not a wilting flower and needs no white knight to rescue her (as long as she has her parasol).  Not only that, but the entire story is a tongue-in-cheek view of "modern" England, science and history.  I love anything that can plausibly rewrite history while mocking it; Ms. Carriger succeeds in just that.

Even though it may be satirical, Soulless is not without its serious messages.  Tolerance and the dangers of science come to the fore as the story proceeds along its path.  Good and evil are not easily discerned as "monsters" protect the Crown, fops come to the rescue, and (heaven forbid!) women hold positions of power. 

Similarly, Alexia and Lord Maccon's tension works because they are so similar.  They both are bound by and yet defy conventions of the day.  It works for them, and one cannot help but appreciate them in their struggles.  In their instance, opposites do not attract, and the reader is the better for it!

I cannot say enough about this fresh and fun take on paranormal romances.  The reader gets the pleasure of enjoying an adult perspective on such things, for once, rather than having to deal with the anguish and drama associated with teen paranormal romances.  I highly recommend Soulless to anyone who enjoys such things.  If I can base my purchase on some random sales clerk, then trust me when I say that you will love it!

I purchased this book with my own money.  It meets the requirements for the 100+ Reading Challenge and the Read 'n Review Challenge.

Another Challenge Finished! - Thriller and Suspense Reading Challenge

I knew when I saw this challenge on Book Chick City's blog, I knew that this was one of the few challenges I could definitely complete.  I knew it was going to be easy actually.  I love thrillers and suspense, and it is such a wide-ranging genre.  Twelve books seemed almost too easy.   That doesn't mean it wasn't enjoyable.  I loved every book I read for this challenge.  I also know that by the end of the year, I will more than likely complete this challenge several times over.  For now, I met my goal of reading twelve thrillers and suspense novels.  Check off another challenge completed!

• 1. The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova (Psychological Thriller)
• 2. Truly, Madly by Heather Webber (Romantic Thriller)
• 3. The Last Surgeon by Michael Palmer (Medical Thriller)
• 4. In the Woods by Tana French (Drama Thriller)
• 5. Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper (Supernatural Thriller)
• 6. Dune by Frank Herbert (Sci-Fi Thriller)
• 7. Public Secrets by Nora Roberts (Romantic Thriller)
• 8. Greywalker by Kat Richardson (Paranormal Thriller)
• 9. Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom by Julie Kenner (Paranormal Thriller)
• 10. The Sinful Life of Lucy Burns by Elizabeth Leiknes (Paranormal Thriller)
• 11. Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz (Paranormal Thriller)
• 12. Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (Paranormal Thriller)

The Sunday Salon - 25 April 2010

For most of the week, my eyes looked like this picture.  Isn't that pretty?  Benedryl, Zyrtec, allergy relief eye drops - NOTHING worked to alleviate the symptoms.  On top of that, my nose alternated from being extremely stuffy to dripping incessantly, my chest was heavy, and I had absolutely no energy to do anything other than hold a book.  (Not that I am complaining about that, but I do now have seven reviews to write.)  I even went to the doctor to see if there was anything he could prescribe that would afford me some relief.  Honestly, I got tired of seeing people cringe and take a step back when looking at my eyes.  It was crazy.

And then, it rained.  And rained.  And rained some more.  We even got to watch Connor's soccer game in a downpour.  I am not complaining at all because while my eyes still itch, they no longer look like I have pink eye.  I have energy for the first time in two weeks.  I am not as stuffy as I was.  It is wonderful!   While I am not fully 100 percent, the fact that I do not want to crawl into bed an hour upon waking is sufficient to have me in the best of moods this weekend.  The doctor said I could expect allergy symptoms until June.  As long as we can keep the eyes from swelling and the energy levels from dropping, I may just make it through this allergy season.

Because most of the week was spent in a Benedryl haze, I did not accomplish much...other than lots of reading.  My husband decided to trade in our Hyundai Santa Fe for a 2010 Chevy Silverado truck.  He then convinced me to purchase a boat this weekend.  We have to pick it up from the seller one of these weekends, but I guess I know what we'll be doing this summer!  Actually, Jim's favorite childhood memories all revolve around boating trips with his family, and from the moment we had kids, this is something he has wanted to do.  This means I really need to step up my weight loss efforts if I will be spending a large majority of my summer in a swimsuit!

Our lives continue to revolve around the kids.  Soccer is still not over and will not be until the end of May.  Holly shocked us by announcing that she wanted to be a cheerleader next year for peewee football.  Yikes!  Jim and I are SO not cheerleader material, but we swore we would let the kids participate in whatever they expressed an interest.  Connor has tried art classes, tee ball, and swimming before settling on soccer, running, piano, and trumpet.  Even though we are not cheerleader parents, we will support her (and pay the $300 to sign up).  A cheerleader.  Oy!

Speaking of family, time to go spend the rest of the evening with mine!  Have a great Sunday evening, everyone!  And happy reading!

Challenge Update

We are now over a quarter of the way through the year.  Because I am exceedingly OCD organized, I started taking stock of all of my reading challenges.  I have come to the conclusion that there are a few I am not going to complete, nor am I interested in adjusting my reading plans just to fit the challenge requirements.  Therefore, as of today, I will be dropping out of the 451 Reading Challenge and the Gilmore Girls Reading Challenge. I have barely started one and have not started the other at all.  These were the two I was most concerned about completing anyway, and really, who needs the added pressure/stress of reading challenges?  So, I'm throwing in the towel on both of these.  Lesson learned - 10 reading challenges is just too many. 

REVIEW - Marked by P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Title:  Marked

Author:  P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

No. of Pages:  306

First Released:  2007

Synopsis (Courtesy of Joseph-Beth Booksellers):  "The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampyres have always existed. In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire--that is, if she makes it through the Change. Not all of those who are chosen do. It's tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny--with a little help from her new vampyre friends."

Comments and Critique:  I read with a theme during the April Read-a-Thon, and vampire young adult series was that theme.  One would think that the vampire story would get old after a while, but each author I pick up has a unique twist to it.  P.C. and Kristin Cast are no different in that they present the idea of a vampire finishing school.  While it might seem like a silly idea, it really is fun and ultimately compelling.  Even better, unlike other novels where the vampires are not evil incarnate, Marked hints at a society that is not as friendly, even dangerous.  It is a welcome approach to the mythology that makes it fresh.

Zoey Redbird is exceedingly likeable.  A reader cannot help but support someone with such a common sense approach to life, someone who does not have a privileged background.  Zoey is just a not-so-average teen struggling to fit in to her new school.  We have all been there at some point in our lives and can definitely relate to her "new-kid-in-the-school" angst.

I found the idea of tattoos on vampires appealing.  There is still a bit of a taboo regarding tattoos, especially facial ones, that renders the entire idea of facial tattoos on vampires as a sign of danger.  In addition, while traditionally vampires are difficult to find because they tend to look like normal humans, the Casts' versions are blatantly marked.  This causes them to lose some of the mystery but I think the visual cues makes them even more menacing.  At the same time, the idea of a delicate pattern woven around the eyes and cheeks is breathtakingly beautiful.  It is an interesting conundrum and speaks to the very charm of vampires no matter what the myth.

From the moment the Tracker appears, there is an undercurrent of stress that builds within the reader.  I attribute this to the threat of the final change and the fact that some fledglings will not live through the change.  The fact that it happens without any warning contributes greatly to the tension built by the Casts as we follow Zoey's initial transition to the House of Night and her status as a fledgling vampyre.  One turns each page with anticipation and dread that something awful will occur to Zoey or any of her new friends.  It is a trick few writers can achieve page after page, yet the Casts have managed to perfect it.

Out of all the vampire books I read in the April Read-a-Thon (of which there were three), Marked was my absolute favorite.  I felt the characters were more believable, the danger more apparent, the story more appealing.  I will definitely be checking out the next book in the series.

I purchased this book with my own money.  This book meets the requirements for the 100+ Reading Challenge, the Read 'n Review Challenge, the Random Reading Challenge (my son chose this book for me), and the Thriller and Suspense Reading Challenge.

REVIEW - Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Title:  Wicked Lovely

Author:  Melissa Marr

No. of Pages:  328

First Released:  2007

Synopsis (Courtesy of Joseph-Beth Booksellers):  "Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty--especially if they learn of her Sight--and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.

Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost--regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; 'everything.'"

Comments and Critique:  This was my first major foray into the Fae mythology.  While I am still a bit hazy on some of the details, I found the Fae a fascinating subject matter.  Wicked Lovely was a fantastic way to get to know the stories behind faeries.

Ms. Marr does an amazing job of setting the tone from the first sentence and keeps up the tension throughout the story.  A reader senses the danger the Fae imply to Aislinn, a danger that continues unabated to the very last page and is implied in future stories.  One becomes scared for Ash, even as she struggles with her own fear.  They may appear pretty, but make no mistake that the Fae are definitely not your Disney fairies. 

Not only was I intrigued with these entities, but the unexpected love square was a welcome addition to the story.  Ash v. Seth v. Keenan - Ms. Marr delves into the idea of first love versus everlasting love.  Are they one and the same?  Are they different?  Do they have to be?

The writing is impeccable.  Easily pictured, I became part of Ash's and Keenan's worlds.  I felt Ash's fear and Keenan's desperation, Seth's constancy, and the Winter Queen's driving need to control.  Wicked Lovely is a breathtaking novel that would be an excellent stand-alone novel but is even better as part of the series.  Consider how emotionally involved a reader becomes, the more one can learn of Ash's, Seth's and Keenan's fates, the better the story.  I cannot wait to pick up the second novel.  Considering Ms. Marr just released the fourth book in the series, I need to start reading!

I purchased this lovely book with my own funds.  This book meets the requirements for the 100+ Reading Challenge, the Read 'n Review Challenge, and the Random Reading Challenge (my daughter selected it for me).

Fans of Melissa Marr - Pay Attention!

Melissa Marr, author of the NYT best-selling Wicked Lovely series, is heading out on tour to share her newest book Radiant Shadows with her legions of fans!  You will have the opportunity to meet Melissa, hear juicy details about the upcoming Wicked Lovely movie, ask her some burning questions about Aislinn, Seth, Irial and the rest of the fae and get behind-the-scenes details about the making of Radiant Shadows.  Here are the details: 

• DENVER, CO  April 22, 2010:  Tattered Cover Book Store; 7:00 pm  
• LEXINGTON, KY  April 23, 2010:  Joseph-Beth Booksellers; 7:00 pm
• ST. LOUIS, MO  April 24, 2010:  St. Louis County Library; 7:00 pm
• BOSTON, MA  April 26, 2010:  Cambridge Public Library, Cambridge, MA; 7:00 pm 
• COLUMBUS, OH  April 28 – May 2, 2010:  Romantic Times Convention 
• CLEVELAND, OH  May 12, 2010:   Joseph-Beth Booksellers; 7:00 pm 
• PHILADELPHIA, PA  May 14, 2010:   Chester County Book Store, West Chester, PA; 7:00 pm 
• RICHMOND, VA  May 15, 2010:   The Fountain Bookstore; 2:00 pm

So, head on out and see her if you can.  And if you do, I would LOVE to hear about it!  I finished Wicked Lovely for the Read-a-Thon and fell in love!  (My review is coming shortly.)

Does Twitter hurt bloggers?

The blogging world was abuzz last week due to a controversial post aimed at discussing supposed cultural differences between bloggers.  I refuse to discuss the post because I believe the blogger in general let something get completely out of hand and is sincerely apologetic for posting something that raised such a rancor.  I feel that she has been vilified enough by others, and I am not one to kick a person when he or she is down.

The entire controversy got me thinking, however.  I cannot help but wonder just how much Twitter impacted the overall controversy.  Bloggers pride themselves on being welcoming and open, and almost everyone discusses the importance of finding their individual voice and expressing their honest opinions.  We lament the supposed blogger clique, the perceived us-versus-them divide between new and established bloggers.  Yet, as soon as someone posts something that may not be in accordance with our own opinions, we are quick to state our opinions on Twitter, thereby starting a general debate that quickly explodes.  This very thing happened this week.  What started out as an innocent post quickly drew ire as others posted about their feelings towards the post.  This quickly snowballed into general rancor, and all of a sudden, our friendly blogging community was not so friendly.

I have seen this happen time and again.  Look at the authors who tweeted their reactions to a negative review.  How well did that work out for them?  So, it raises the question - is Twitter really helping our cause or harming it?  When listening to the chatter about the supposed blogging clique, a lot of the examples point to Twitter conversations as the key indicators that such a clique exists.  I see the same people on Twitter, carrying on conversations all day long.  In a blink of an eye, Twitter conversations create reading challenge, contests, or fascinating discussions on a particular book, not to mention the chance to get to know other bloggers.  However, not everyone can be on Twitter all times of the day.  Is this exclusivity, meaning those that can follow Twitter all day long, causing some of the discord?

Also, is the speed and disconnect of Twitter dividing rather than uniting book bloggers?  Are we too quick to share our opinions on Twitter?  Are our opinions coming to the fore much more directly than they would in our blogs?   Would the controversy about last week's post have been so vocal if it were not for Twitter?

I post this knowing that I am an unabashed Twitter fan.  I have had many an interesting, often hilarious conversation with other bloggers and have created genuine friendships with many of them just via time spent together tweeting.  However, like everything deemed good, does it have a downside?  Should we be more cognizant of what we post and discuss on Twitter?  Do we have a responsibility to be more careful in our conversations - to think before we tweet?  Or has the online relationship phenomenon completely negated our feelings of empathy, making it easier to discuss a topic in too candid a fashion, in a way that we would never do in real life?  Is Twitter hurting blogger relations?

REVIEW - Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz

Title:  Blue Bloods

Author:  Melissa De La Cruz

No. of Pages:  302

First Released:  2006

Synopsis (Courtesy of Joseph-Beth Booksellers):  "Schuyler Van Alen is confused about what is happening to her. Her veins are starting to turn blue, and she's starting to crave raw meat. Soon, her world is thrust into an intricate maze of secret societies and bitter intrigue. Schuyler has never been a part of the trendy crowd at her prestigious New York private school. Now, all of a sudden, Jack Force, the most popular guy in school, is showing an interest in her. And when one of the popular girls is found dead, Schuyler and Jack are determined to get to the bottom of it.

Schuyler wants to find out the secrets of the mysterious Blue Bloods. But is she putting herself in danger?"

Comments and Critique:  Just when I think I have read every vampire myth known to man, I discover yet another version, and I can't say that I am disappointed.  I love how authors are managing to take something old and well-known and put their own spin on it.  Melissa De La Cruz does just that with her version of the vampire mythology.  In hers, vampires are not evil but wealthy, privileged, and talented.  Vampires can be killed but their spirit (and memories) live on to be reincarnated.  There is even a tie-in to the nephilim and the fallen angels mythology.  You have to appreciate an author who can multi-task like that!

In Blue Bloods, Ms. De La Cruz is definitely setting the stage for future books.  The mysterious secrets of the Blue Bloods are compelling, but the overarching mystery and danger is more intriguing.  She leaves many questions unanswered, thereby requiring that one continues to read the series for satisfaction.

Unfortunately, I personally found it very difficult to care about a majority of the characters.  I do not have the money, the name, or access to the social elite, nor do I want to have access to it.  I found an unappealing focus on brands and image that bothered me.  There is more to life than wearing the latest fashions or owning the right brands.  Even though Ms. De La Cruz did highlight the charitable organizations founded by or sponsored by the Blue Bloods, I felt there was an unacceptable focus on image rather than deeds that does not feel like the right message to pass along to young adults.

Similarly, part of the appeal of the vampire mythology is that anyone may become one.  They are mysterious and select, but they will choose people from all walks of life to live with them through eternity.  Unfortunately, Ms. De La Cruz's version dispenses with all of that and makes it an exclusive club in which one must be born to become members.  The possibilities are no longer endless but rather very, very limited.  It is one of the few disappointing aspects of the book. 

In spite of my concerns about the exclusivity and wrong messaging to teens, I did enjoy this new take on an old premise; it is definitely unique.  The main mystery is interesting; while I might not care about the characters as much as I should, I do want answers and will continue to read the series to get them.  Any fan of vampire lore will appreciate the fresh take on this mythology, as I did.  I look forward to the next book in the series and will recommend Blue Bloods to my vampire-loving friends.

I purchased this with my own money.  This fits the requirements for the 100+ Reading Challenge, the Read 'n Review Challenge, the Random Reading Challenge (because my children picked it out for me), and the Thriller and Suspense Reading Challenge.

REVIEW - The Life O'Reilly by Brian Cohen

Title:  The Life O'Reilly

Author:  Brian Cohen

No. of Pages:  266

First Released:  August 2009

Synopsis (Courtesy of Joseph-Beth Booksellers):  "On the outside, Nick OReilly has it all: a high-flying legal career, as a partner of an elite Wall Street law firm, and financial security, with an apartment overlooking Central Park. Having grown up in a working-class family, as far back as Nick can remember this was his dream. But at the age of thirty-six, after several years of sacrificing his personal life for professional gain, Nick has started to ponder his future and consider the mark he wants to leave on society both professionally and personally his legacy.

After being chastised in the press for turning a cold shoulder to the community, the firm calls upon Nick to help rehabilitate its image by handling its first pro bono case. Nick is asked to represent Dawn Nelson, a domestic violence victim who is fighting for custody of her young son, Jordan. A far cry from Nicks specialty of defending the misdeeds of Corporate America, it is up to Nick to set Dawn and Jordan on a path to a better life. But Nick gets much more than he signed on for, as Dawn forces him to reassess his life choices and, ultimately, be true to himself. Only when Nick finally realizes what is truly important in life does he face his toughest and possibly final challenge: a battle for his own survival."

Comments and Critique:  In this day and age, when people struggle to find balance between work and personal life, when they are on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week thanks to smartphones, laptops, e-mail, cell phones, and all of the latest technological breakthroughs, The Life O'Reilly is here to remind us of the importance of setting our priorities.  It is a beautifully written story that requires the reader to stop and think about his or her own life and what is truly important, something everyone needs to do periodically. 

Brian Cohen definitely has a way with words.  In fact, he likes his details.  Everything is meticulously described, from the setting to the interior to appearance.  Actually, he likes his details a bit too much.  While I understand, and appreciate, establishing a clear picture for the reader, at times I felt that the details distracted the reader from the overall story.  Mr. Cohen does a fantastic job of establishing a connection between the reader and Nick that does not require knowing the brands and fabrics of what he is wearing or where he purchased his furniture.  The story and underlying tension loses momentum each time Mr. Cohen would start drawing a verbal picture for the reader. 

The Life O'Reilly is very fairy tale-esque in that most of the conflicts are quickly and easily resolved.  Life is just not as tidy as Mr. Cohen presents.  The easily resolved conflicts leaves a reader wanting more - more drama, more problems, more reality.  However, the reader eventually realizes that Nick's problems are not the point of the story.  Rather, Mr. Cohen is stressing the idea of not taking life for granted.  Once the reader ascertains the overall message, he or she can sit back and enjoy the rest of the story, and enjoy it they will.  While one might not be a high-powered lawyer, almost all readers can relate to the need to eke out a personal life from the ever-expanding work requirements, to establish our values and our priorities.  Nick struggles with these very real issues, and the reader supports his every move.

Added to Nick's struggle is the very poignant bloom of romance between Nick and Dawn.  Mr. Cohen does an amazing job of presenting the first blush of love - the confusion, doubts, and emotional roller coaster that coincides with that romance.  Nick and Dawn's story is heartbreaking and beautiful, reminiscent of first love in all its hesitancy.  Again, it is a relationship to which most readers can relate.  The reader cannot help but fall in love along side Nick and Dawn.

In spite of its weaknesses, The Life O'Reilly will remain with the reader long after the last page is turned.  Mr. Cohen does an excellent job of reminding his audience that we should have no regrets in life, that life is fleeting, and that we need to live it to its fullest now rather than wait for a future date.  Nick's story is haunting, and I find myself dwelling on the lessons learned periodically throughout the day even weeks after I finished reading the book.  The Life O'Reilly is a subtle story but well worth the time spent reading.

Thank you to the author, Brian Cohen, for this review copy.  This selection counts for the 100+ Reading Challenge as well as the Read 'n Review Challenge. 

The Sunday Salon - April 18, 2010

I wish I could say that I am writing this from the comfort of my couch, still in my pajamas, but alas, every Sunday through June requires me to get dressed and go outside to watch Connor play soccer.  I haven't quite decided how I feel about Sunday games.  On the one hand, it is nice not to have to get up early every Saturday morning for games.  Then again, it completely ruins a peaceful Sunday afternoon.  Oh well.  Just one more sacrifice made for my children...

Because allergies suck and allergy medicine sucks all your brain cells, I did not get around to writing any of my six reviews I need to write.  (I know what I'll be doing after the soccer game today!)  I was able to finish one more, highly enjoyable book and have moved on to something a bit more serious.  The Read-A-Thon took a bit out of me this week, in that it required a bit more effort from me this week to actually pick up a book.  Dare I say I was burnt out from reading?  Hmmmm...

Holly had her surgery this week and is feeling 100 percent better.  Her ears look really good, so we are hoping that the issue was really just her adenoids.  She is so funny talking about how much she wants to go back into surgery because of the treats she got afterwards (ice cream, a new book).  She may be the only child I know who gets excited at the thought of going to the hospital. 

Speaking of books, you know you've passed on your love of reading to your children when they start jumping up and down in excitement when you mention going into Barnes and Noble.  Both Connor and Holly last night were beyond excited at the idea of a new book, and Connor even went so far as to declare Barnes and Noble the best store ever.  Ah, I have done my duty. 

Even better, I used those same books to bribe the kids into helping me with housework today.  Connor literally got up, went outside to brush the dog, swept the stairs, empty out the dishwasher, shook out the rugs, cleaned the sliding glass door, and so much more all because he knew that I would let him have his new book if he helped.  It was...awesome!  I got my house finished in half the time, and I only had to do half of it.  Bribery does pay. 

On that note, I need to go pay attention to my children.  Have a lovely Sunday and great week!  Happy Reading!

REVIEW - The Sinful Life of Lucy Burns by Elizabeth Leiknes

Title:  The Sinful Life of Lucy Burns

Author:  Elizabeth Leiknes

No. of Pages:  167

First Released:  2009

Synopsis (Courtesy of B&N):  "Lucy Burns wants a normal life: friends, love, and a family of her own. And she could have it all if only she could break free from the job she hates.

That job? Facilitator to hell.

And her boss is a real devil.

At the age of eleven, to save her sister's life, Lucy writes a desperate letter to "To Whom It May Concern," but when He writes back, Lucy is bound for life. There are perks, sure-she's ageless, she's beautiful, and she can eat as much chocolate as she wants and never get fat-but there are also consequences.

She can never see her family again.

She can never have a boyfriend.

She must spend her life leading sinners to their demise.

After nineteen years of doing the Devil's dirty work, Lucy wants out, but it all seems hopeless until Teddy Nightingale, her easy listening music idol, gives her the answer: a little-known loophole.

If she succeeds, Lucy gets love, happiness, and everything she ever really wanted. But the consequences? They're considerably worse than death. To make it through, Lucy must decide what is evil and what is good, what is right and what is wrong, and if, in the end, there's ever any way to truly know."

Comments and Critique:  This was the first book I read for the April 2010 24-Hour Read-a-Thon.  I picked it up at 8 AM on Saturday morning and finished it roughly ninety minutes later.  I might not have been fully awake when I first started reading it, but there is something about Lucy and her plight that makes one forget about needing coffee and completely absorbs your thoughts. 

Ms. Leiknes did a fantastic job of presenting a classic good versus evil morality tale, with her own added twist.  Lucy is funny, likeable, and snarky.  The snark definitely lightens the message but allows the reader to relate to Lucy, even if she can eat all the chocolate she wants without gaining weight. 

At 167 pages, there does not appear to be much there, but Ms. Leiknes does a tremendous job of raising questions - what makes people good versus evil?  Is it one's job, one's thoughts, one's actions, one's intentions, or a combination thereof?  In addition, she demonstrates very clearly that one should also be careful of what one wishes - in a very literal sense.  More importantly, she presents a great lesson on empathy and the need to always get to know the full story before making assumptions. 

The Sinful Life of Lucy Burns is deliciously fun in its snarkiness, but it does have a very serious message about having it all and being careful for what you wish.  This is no fairy tale in the Disney sense but rather a tale for today's age - one where the bad and the good guys are difficult to discern.  A quick read, I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a lighthearted good versus evil story.  Lucy Burns will charm her way into any reader's heart!

This book counts towards my 100+ Reading Challenge, my Read 'n Review Challenge, and the Thriller and Suspense Reading Challenge. I used my own money to get this little gem into my library.

A friendly shout-out

Yes, this is a book blog, and no, I have not posted a review for my read-a-thon books yet.  Allergies have absolutely felled me this week.  For most allergy sufferers, they know what to expect.  I am not an allergy sufferer, and yet I have never experienced such symptoms as I have this week - sinus pain, congestion, itchy nose, itchy skin, constant sneezing, constant running nose, and now, allergy conjunctivitis.  OTC allergy medicine is not working, so I am left with barely enough energy each evening to make it home and collapse on the couch.  I cannot wait until the wind stops blowing this evil poison all over the world.  I am ready to be able to breathe again and be able to think beyond the constant itching.  This truly sucks to high heaven, and I will never scoff at allergy symptoms again.

Thank you to all of those well-wishers for Holly yesterday.  She made it through the procedure with flying colors and was back to feeling normal by late afternoon.  Granted, we had a scary moment with emergence delirium.  We were brought back to the recovery room to discover her flailing around and sobbing uncontrollably.  She had no idea where she was, who she was, or even who we were.  The nurses could not hold her still to protect her IV, she did not want to come to me, so in the end, Jim held her, and the nurses gave her a narcotic through her IV to help her go back to sleep.  They said this often happens and that extra twenty-five minutes of sleep is enough to have them waking up normally.  This was definitely the case; she was a completely different person after the second wake-up.  Another hour of naps and slowly waking up, and we were home. 

I have to give a shout-out to the nurses, nurse practitioners and doctors at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.  They were without a doubt some of the friendliest people we have ever found in the medical profession.  Jim and I have gone through this procedure three times with Connor, and we never experienced the care, commitment and thoroughness that we saw today.  They went out of their way to make Holly comfortable, so much so that she was chatting up the nurses on the way to the OR.  Jim and I had no anxiety (well, almost none) because everyone was so open about what to expect, and we were able to be with Holly for all but the procedure itself and shortly thereafter.  If you live in the Cincinnati/Dayton area and have children, I would highly recommend seeking out one of the Cincinnati Children's locations.  A good doctor is difficult to find, and an entire hospital filled with them is even more so.  Thank you to everyone who helped Holly with her procedure yesterday!  Your care made the entire experience bearable!