Giveaway: Precious by Sandra Novack

Sandra Novack is generously offering a copy of Precious to one of my readers.

To enter:

Leave a comment on this post telling me why you'd like to read this book. Please leave your email address.

If you blog or tweet about the giveaway, let me know in the comments, and you'll receive an extra entry.

If you're a follower or subscriber to my blog, let me know, and I'll give you an extra entry for that, too.

This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only and will run until Friday, June 5 at 11:59 EST.

Precious by Sandra Novack

Sandra Novack opens Precious with the disappearance of a 10-year old girl, Vicki Anderson, in a small town in Pennsylvania during the summer of 1978. The girl's disappearance disturbs her friend, Sissy Kisch, who saw her on the day she disappeared but didn't say anything.

Sissy's family has enough problems already, as her mother Natalia abandoned the family and ran off with the doctor for whom she worked. Novack shows how Natalia's disappearance affects young Sissy, her older sister Eva, and their father Frank. Eva is thrust into her mother's role at a time when Sissy most needs her real mother, but Eva is on the cusp of womanhood, embroiled in an affair with a teacher at her high school -- never mind all the other boys she sleeps with -- and is not ready for such responsibility. Meanwhile, Frank is left to raise the girls alone, and he has a hard time managing his anger. Tensions arise when Natalia returns home, and the family is changed forever.

Novack's prose is beautiful, putting you in the scene and making you feel the character's emotions. The characters are wonderfully flawed, and I was able to feel some sympathy for them even at their worst. Novack really gets you thinking about how we react to the events of our lives and how we reach out or push away those we love.

I really felt for Sissy, a young girl not sure what to think about her friend's disappearance and alone in her house when Eva rushes off to be with her man while their father is at work. This is one of my favorite passages from Precious, when Sissy goes to the park where Vicki was last seen despite being told to stay away:

She does not know when, exactly, she first hears laughter. Possibly seconds after skipping the first stone, maybe minutes. She freezes, stone in hand. On the other side of the creek, at the place where large limestone juts from the ground and a thick tree branch extends over the water, she sees Vicki just as she imagined her, her bedraggled hair crowned with flowers. "I didn't really believe you're dead," Sissy calls out. "I knew I could find you." Watching her, Sissy can hardly contain her heart, its joyful leaping. Before she can think that she will be famous for her detective skills, and that she will win if not the love of her mother then the love and adoration of Vicki's mother, all while Vicki is chastised for running away and sent to her room for a month without dinner, before she can think of any of this, she blurts out, "People are worried about you, you know. You can't just leave like that." (page 55-56)

I also found Natalia's story interesting, from her horrific experience as a child in a gypsy camp during the Holocaust to her motivations for leaving her family. Novack drew me in from the first page, and I highly recommend this book. Precious is not a light read, and it was hard to read at times -- especially the scenes in which Vicki's mother Ginny expresses much pain over her daughter's disappearance -- but the emotional roller coaster is a worthwhile ride.

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Sandra Novack generously agreed to answer a few questions, and I'm honored to welcome her to Diary of an Eccentric.

What inspired you to write Precious?

Precious was inspired by an incident in my life, that when I was seven my sister ran away from home, and I've never seen her again. So the idea of disappearances, as well as the notion that when we tell stories we remember and resurrect those who are lost, were always with me.

How long did it take you to write the book?

My agent landed me a two-book deal with a partial novel and a completed story collection. So I wrote most of Precious under a nine month deadline. In total (including the months to write the 85 page partial) that process took one year.

Do you have a special place where you write?

It depends, but mostly I like to work at the dining room table these days because the light is good and the table is large and I can spread out, so to speak. But I also write at the kitchen table and in our sun room and outside and in libraries and even sometimes at my actual desk. The one constant is that I need a quite place to write. I don't do well with distractions.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what songs help get the creative juices flowing?

I don't play music when I write, no. That said, I do listen to music in my "down" time and many times I get ideas from songs. Bob Dylan's "North Country Fair" was one that inspired me for Precious. The Shins always get me in the mood and give me creative ideas. Lately Fleet Foxes also does that. I'm a huge fan of Paul Simon and Tom Petty, and both of them have inspired me to pen a line or two here and there. Cold Play is my guilty pleasure. I also love "home town" musicians, like Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen. And REM. I could go on and on there.

What's the best book you've read recently?

Hands down, John Irving's The Cider House Rules

What are some things you like to do when you're not writing?

Eat! My husband and I love all kinds of food: French, Thai, Ethiopian, Japanese, Indian, Greek... (Just writing that makes me hungry!) Dinner out with my husband and friends makes me so entirely happy. As does good wine. I also like to take long walks; exercise; play with my dog, Chloe (she's a Great Pyrenees); garden; swim; and travel by train, which is just about the least efficient way to travel anywhere.

Are you working on another book? If so, any hints as to what it's about?

I'm currently working on two projects, the contracted story collection and also a new novel called Resurrection Fern. The novel is set in a small rural town and has a man who has died three times and come back to life, a boy who sustains him in his loneliness, and another man who comes back to town with a secret, a crime he committed thirty years before. The boys gets tangled up in all that. It's a bit quirkier and funnier than Precious, but the ideas of travel, of family, and of storytelling and memory are all still there.

With regard to writing, what's the best piece of advice you've received?

Oh, I think always to try, never to quit, and not to be afraid of rejection. Because a writer's life is mostly rejection, and you have to embrace that idea to even reach success. Also, read a lot. Published writers--any writers you love--are going to teach you something about craft, if you're willing to sit down, study the work, and learn.

Thanks, Sandra, for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer my questions. I wish you much success!

******

Check out the other stops on the tour here.  Also, check back later today for a chance to win a copy of Precious!

Disclosure:  I received a free copy of Precious from Random House for review purposes.

Off to BEA!!

Tomorrow morning, Serena and I will be on our way to Book Expo America. I probably won't be back online until Monday, but I'll be sure to let you all know how it went. I haven't been to NYC in about 10 years, so I'm sure it'll be a lot of fun.

With all the packing and other preparations, I didn't get a chance to post my review of The Jewel Trader of Pegu by Jeffrey Hantover. I'll get that up next week. However, I hope you'll stop by tomorrow for my review of Sandra Novack's Precious, my interview with Sandra, and a giveaway.

Giveaway: Mating Rituals of the North American WASP by Lauren Lipton

Hachette is generously offering 5 copies of Mating Rituals of the North American WASP by Lauren Lipton to my readers as part of the Early Birds Blog Tour. If you haven't already, you can read my review and a guest post by the author here.

To enter:

Leave a comment on this post. Be sure to include your email address. An extra entry will be given to those who tweet or blog about this giveaway and let me know in the comments.

Since the publisher is handling shipping, this giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada addresses only, no P.O. boxes.

The giveaway will run until Wednesday, June 3 at 11:59 pm EST.

Mating Rituals of the North American WASP by Lauren Lipton

“I have a promise ring,” she finished lamely. “I can’t have coffee with you.”

“You can’t get married,” the caller said.

“Oh, really?” She didn’t need this. Not from Bex and not from some stranger she’d…No, don’t think about it. She turned to face the wall, away from the prying eyes of her customers and Padma. “Brock and I love each other, and when people love each other, they get married. I can get married, and I will get married.”

“I’m afraid you’re wrong,” he answered. “You’re already married. To me.” (from Mating Rituals of the North American WASP, page 23)

Mating Rituals of the North American WASP is a fun book by Lauren Lipton about a thirtysomething woman who wakes up in Las Vegas with a man she vaguely remembers meeting in a casino after downing too many martinis. Peggy Adams is worried that she cheated on her long-time commitment-phobe boyfriend, Brock, but her worries escalate when the man from Vegas calls to tell her that in their drunken stupor they got married. Luke Silas Sedgwick IV is a WASP from New Ninevah, Connecticut, and aside from his elderly great-aunt, Miss Abigail, he is the only Sedgwick left.

Peggy, concerned that the rent on her New York City bath products store will double when the lease is up, decides to stay married to Luke, as Abigail changes her will to allow the two to sell the family home and split the proceeds if they stay married for one year. Luke could use the money as well, with the family finances dwindling and Abigail’s dementia in need of more care than he can provide. So Peggy begins leading a double life, working in NYC and juggling her feelings for Brock during the week and fixing up the Sedgwick home and living as a married woman during the weekend.

Although Mating Rituals of the North American WASP was predictable, it was an enjoyable read, and I flew through the 350 or so pages in just a couple of days. I liked Lipton’s characters and was glad to see that Peggy and Luke evolved from anxious (Peggy) and reserved (Luke) to stronger people more sure of themselves and what they want by the end of the book. Bex’s, Peggy’s best friend and business partner, was another of my favorites. How she juggled the business, fertility treatments, and Peggy’s wacky double life, I’ll never know. Throw into the mix Luke’s snooty New Ninevah friends, Peggy’s eccentric parents, and the annoying Brock, and you have the makings of a romantic comedy. Jeremy, another love interest of Peggy’s, was the one character I felt was totally unnecessary to the plot, but his scenes didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book.

Mating Rituals of the North American WASP could be categorized as “chick lit,” but it’s well-written chick lit that focuses more on marriage and family than dating and sex. Watching Peggy try to fit in with New Ninevah high society – using food as a prop during parties but draining all the liquor and discussing one’s lineage like you would the weather – was hilarious. The misunderstandings between Peggy and Luke and Luke’s desire to be a poet lent the necessary romance to the story, while protests on the New Ninevah green added some tension. All the humor, romance, and drama make Mating Rituals of the North American WASP perfect light reading for the summer.

******

When I asked about her writing space, Lauren Lipton, author of Mating Rituals of the North American WASP, generously provided a picture and a description:

Dear Anna,

This is the glamorous locale in which I wrote most of Mating Rituals of the North American WASP: My glamorous sofa in my glamorous New York City apartment. Now I'm writing a third novel--or trying to.

Sometimes pictures say it better than words. So, clockwise from the bowl of peanut butter pretzels on the sofa arm at left:

1. Peanut butter pretzels. Can't write third novel on empty stomach!

2. Jump drive, to back up third novel in case of MacBook meltdown (which had just happened in the moments before I shot this photo).

3. Pillow with cool, black-and-white graphic pattern I'm so enamored of that I just redid my website to match it, using time I should have been spending writing third novel.

4. MacBook user manual I was consulting to try and diagnose meltdown (finally had to call Apple tech support, in time I could have been spending writing third novel).

5. Naughty, naughty MacBook. Bad MacBook.

6. Lap desk, so MacBook stays cool and comfortable.

7. My foot. I am standing on the sofa, looking down upon the glamorous scene. Note perfect pedicure. I did it myself, while I was supposed to be working on third novel.

Thanks, Lauren! I wish my writing space was that glamorous...and neat. :)

******

About Lauren Lipton:

Lauren Lipton is the author of two novels, It's About Your Husband (2006) and Mating Rituals of the North American WASP (2009). She is also a freelance journalist who specializes in style, business and trend stories.

She is currently fashion, beauty and lifestyle editor at ForbesWoman magazine. She has also contributed features on society and media to the New York Times Sunday Styles section. A former Wall Street Journal staff writer, she reported on copycat brides who steal their friends' wedding ideas, pajama parties for grown women, and luxury homes with his-and-hers garages.

Her work also has appeared in Conde Nast Portfolio, In Style Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings, Best Life, Glamour, Marie Claire, Fit Pregnancy and Working Mother, and on National Public Radio's All Things Considered. She began her career at the Los Angeles Times.

Born in Providence, R.I., Lauren grew up in the North County of San Diego and in Los Gatos, Calif., before moving to Los Angeles. She holds a bachelor's degree in English and anthropology from Occidental College and a master's degree in print journalism from the University of Southern California.

She lives with her family in New York City and in Litchfield County, Conn.

For more information about Lauren Lipton, check out her website, blog, and Facebook fan page.

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Visit drey's library for a list of other book bloggers participating in the Hachette Early Birds Blog Tour for Mating Rituals of the North American WASP. A big thanks to Miriam Parker at Hachette for organizing the tour and to Drey for compiling the list of participants.

Disclosure:  I received a free copy of Mating Rituals of the North American WASP from Hachette for review purposes.

A Long Weekend, BEA, and Other Randomness

First off, I apologize for the not-so-great picture quality. Cheap-o camera + bad lighting + an amateur at touch ups = grainy picture. But The Girl is cute, so I think that offsets her mother's inability to fix the picture. (It's a camera I received for free and gave to The Girl, but since I don't have my own camera, I had to borrow it.) Anyway, that's the ribbon she received for participating in her school's walk-a-thon. She came in second with 24 laps. Hooray!

I decided to spend the long Memorial Day weekend away from the computer, and before I knew it, Google Reader exploded and several days passed since my last post (no new books = no Mailbox Monday post, but I'm not complaining because I need some time to catch up). Although I'm playing catch up (as usual), I enjoyed the lazy weekend. We played a lot of board games, watched a few movies, played a round of mini golf, had a BBQ for three, and most importantly had a lot of fun.

I even found some time for reading! I finished The Jewel Trader of Pegu by Jeffrey Hantover, and I'll be posting my review on Thursday. Also stay tuned for reviews of Mating Rituals of the North American WASP by Lauren Lipton and Precious by Sandra Novack this week.

On Friday morning, Serena and I will be traveling together to NYC for Book Expo America. I'm very excited and making lists of what I need to pack, what I want to see, who I want to meet, etc. Are any of you going to be there? Who's going to the BEAtweetup? We'd love to meet you! Any veterans have any last-minute advice for us newbies?

If you're still reading after all that rambling, more power to ya! LOL (I'm not one to post more than book reviews or a few personal things here and there. What do I say? Does anyone care?)

One last thing. Some of you already know this, but I caved and joined Twitter. (I'm @annaeccentric) I don't know how often I'll be able to "hang out," but it's been a lot of fun so far. Well, it's off to bed. I could ramble on all night, but I don't want to scare you all away. ;)

We Have Winners!

The lucky winners of The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson are...

pamwax
Serena
Literate Housewife
Annie
JenniferB

Congratulations and happy reading!

The Triumph of Deborah by Eva Etzioni-Halevy

"Our women don't negotiate," he retorted in a cutting tone. "They are true women. They are delicate and soft like fluttering sparrows, not coarse and presumptuous and domineering, like hawks, as you are."

Sisra had spoken to Deborah as no man had ever dared speak to her before and his words struck her like a slap in the face. Her anger flared up, and this time she retaliated with sharp words of her own. "I have no wish to learn your opinion of me. I want only to attain peace with your king and your people." (from The Triumph of Deborah, page 23)

The Triumph of Deborah by Eva Etzioni-Halevy is my first foray into biblical fiction. Deborah is a judge respected by the Israelites, and the book is based on Judges in the Old Testament. According to the historical note at the end of the book, the events that take place within its pages occurred from the 12th to mid-11th centuries BCE.

The Canaanites have long been attacking the Israelite villages, stealing livestock and raping and enslaving the women. Deborah, also a prophetess, recognizes the need for the Israelites to go to war, as the Canaanites already are preparing to battle. Against her husband's wishes, Deborah chooses Barak, a young wild-child warrior to lead the Israelites into battle. Barak, however, is known for his sexual antics (particularly with his maids), and he says he will lead the army only if Deborah agrees to share his bed as his reward.

From the start of the book, Etzioni-Halevy shows how difficult it was to be a woman during this period in history. Though well respected by her people, Deborah is unable to negotiate peace with Sisra, the Canaanite warrior, because she is a woman. Her husband, Lapidoth, doesn't think the battlefield is a suitable place for a woman, and when Deborah makes it known that she plans to accompany Barak and has no intention of putting an old commander in charge (Lapidoth's first choice), he gives her a book of divorcement. She is forced to leave the home she has shared for years with Lapidoth and their five young sons and take up residence in the tent on the hill where she acts as judge.

But the main focus of The Triumph of Deborah isn't just Deborah's story. After conquering the Canaanites at the beginning of the book, Barak captures Asherah, King Jabin's daughter and wife of Sisra, to be his wife after the 30-day period of mourning ends. Asherah has no choice but to become Barak's wife, as he plans to take her against her will if he must. Meanwhile, Nogah, Asherah's sister who grew up as a slave in the castle, serves as Barak's maid and develops deep feelings for him. Throw in Deborah, who also has feelings for Barak, and there's not a love triange but a love square. Barak is an interesting character, given that he uses women to fulfill his sexual needs without a thought to their feelings, but he also has a compassionate, tender side and a genuine desire to care for people's needs.

I'm glad Etzioni-Halevy chose to tell the story from various points of view. Each of these characters has a chance to display their feelings and motives, and even with their flaws laid out on the table, it was easy to feel sympathetic toward them all. Her writing is beautiful, easily shifting from one point of view to another. Some readers might be put off by the numerous sex scenes, especially when dealing with biblical themes (though one must understand that there is sex in the Bible), but they were well written and not graphic. Given the nature of Barak's character, I don't think they were overdone.

There is a lot going on in The Triumph of Deborah, from personal relationships, war and political dealings, slavery and social customs, religion, and the oppression of women, but Etizoni-Halevy expertly weaves these themes together and creates a story that was difficult for me to put down. I am not well versed in the story of Deborah and Barak and cannot separate the history from the fiction, but it didn't affect my enjoyment whatsoever. I highly recommend this book, especially for readers who love historical or biblical fiction, and I hope to read Etizoni-Halevy's other novels at some point.

Visit Eva Etzioni-Halevy's website for an excerpt from The Triumph of Deborah and a reading group guide.

The Triumph of Deborah also was reviewed by:

In Spring it is the Dawn
Caribousmom
A Novel Menagerie
Book Addiction
Books and Cooks
Reading Reflections
Book Escape
The Literate Housewife Review
Peeking Between the Pages
Melissa's Bookshelf
Jo-Jo Loves to Read

If I missed your review, let me know in the comments, and I'll add your link!

Disclosure:  I received a free copy of The Triumph of Deborah from the author for review purposes.

Princess Katie and the Silver Pony by Vivian French

I was scanning The Girl's book shelves this evening, and I realized she has as many books as I do. And I wonder why we're running out of space in our small townhouse! Anyway, we wanted to cuddle on the couch before her bedtime, and I suggested we grab a book that could be read in one sitting. Last summer, she received a gift certificate for her birthday and used it to buy books. Almost one year later, I figure it's time we read some of her purchases.

Princess Katie and the Silver Pony is book 2 in Vivian French's series The Tiara Club. The Girl was a bit tired this evening from her school walk-a-thon, so she wanted me to read to her, and we breezed through these 70 or so pages in about 30 minutes. French tells the book from the point of view of Princess Katie, one of the girls attending the Princess Academy. There are a couple of introductory pages about the academy, which we found helpful because we hadn't read the first book. Basically, the books follow 6 friends -- Katie, Sophia, Charlotte, Daisy, Emily, and Alice -- and their rival Perfecta as they attend various magical classes to earn tiara points. They need these tiara points to reside in the Silver Towers for perfect princesses next year.

In Princess Katie and the Silver Pony, the princesses take a wish class in preparation for the Royal Parade. The girls are asked by the fairy godmother, known as Fairy G., to write down their wish, and the princess whose wish benefits other people before herself will win 100 tiara points and a chance to ride on the Seashell Coach in the parade. Of course, Perfecta is willing to do anything for those tiara points, as she didn't receive enough the prior year to move ahead in her princess education.

This book is geared toward girls ages 6 to 9, and it was perfect for The Girl. She could have easily read this on her own, though I didn't mind reading to her, of course. And there was talk of princesses, fancy dresses, and dancing, which she enjoyed. French's writing makes it seem as though Katie is talking to you, which made the pages fly by. There's an illustration on nearly every page, which held The Girl's attention, but best of all was the message French delivers to young girls. The Princess Academy's school motto is, "A Perfect Princess always thinks of others before herself, and is kind, caring, and truthful." Those are some good values to promote, and even though the girls in the story aspire to be "perfect" princesses, they stumble but learn from their mistakes. The Girl has another book from The Tiara Club series on her shelf, and I look forward to reading it with her soon.

Here's what The Girl (age 8) had to say about Princess Katie and the Silver Pony:

This is a magical story about 6 princesses who have to make 1 wish. That 1 wish will have to go or stay, and what do they wish for? There also is a contest about a parade and whoever gets the most tiara points will get to ride in a carriage with 6 horses pulling it. I liked this book because it was very interesting.

Disclosure:  We purchased our copy of Princess Katie and the Silver Pony.


and

We Have Winners!!

The winners of The Wonder Singer by George Rabasa are:

kitten22
bridget3420

Congratulations and happy reading! I've passed your addresses on to the publisher, and you should receive your copies soon.

Mailbox Monday -- May 18

It's time for another Mailbox Monday, hosted by Marcia from The Printed Page, where we share the books we received in the mail, purchased, or otherwise obtained over the last week.

Here are the latest books added to my shelves:



The Late, Lamented Molly Marx by Sally Koslow (from the author/Random House)



The Last Bridge by Teri Coyne (an unexpected surprise from Random House)



American Eve by Paula Uruburu (from Penguin Group)



The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson (from Hachette)



Flowers for Elvis by Julie Schuster (an unexpected surprise from Bell Bridge Books)

What books did you welcome into your home last week?

Giveaway: The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson

From the back cover:

Laurel Gray Hawthorne hasn't seen a ghost in the thirteen years she and her husband have lived in their beautiful gated community. Then, in the dog days of a Florida August, she wakes to find Molly, her daughter's best friend, standing by her bed, who then leads her to her own small body floating lifelessly in the Hawthornes' pool. Laurel's carefully constructed existence cracks, and the past seeps through...

Laurel and her sister, Thalia, grew up in what looked like a typical blue-collar home. But the Grays have long been hiding a skeleton in their closet. While Laurel built her "perfect" life, Thalia became an actress with a capital A, a woman who doesn't fit in Laurel's tidy world. Now Molly can't rest until someone learns her secrets. Laurel turns to her sister, and together they begin a journey that will unearth their family's history, the true state of Laurel's marriage, and what really happened to...the girl who stopped swimming.

I received a copy of The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilyn Jackson from Hachette Book Group, and they're generously offering 5 copies to my readers. This sounds like a great book, and I'm looking forward to reading it.

To enter this giveaway, please leave a comment on this post, along with your email address. Since the publisher is handling the shipping, this giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada addresses only, no P.O. boxes.

This giveaway will run until Sunday, May 24, at 11:59 pm EST.

Dear Anaïs: My Life in Poems for You by Diana M. Raab

Dear Anaïs: My Life in Poems for You is a collection of poems by Diana M. Raab that chronicle her life from childhood to menopause. Raab dedicates the book to the famous diarist Anaïs Nin, known for her insight into relationships and for being one of the first writers of female erotica.

The first section of Dear Anaïs, titled “Each Winter Sunday,” is dedicated to poems about Raab's childhood. “Jones Beach” is about visiting the beach with her mother and grandmother every Sunday, and there are several poems that talk about how her father taught figure skating at Rockefeller Center and how her mother loved horses.

The next section, “No One Else Was Home,” features poems dedicated to members of her family, including her grandmother, her grandfather, her father, and her aunt. Raab’s deep connection to her grandmother and the loss she felt after her grandmother’s suicide is shown in the poem “To Dettner (My Grandmother).”

But now your body descended to the ambulance
and sirens swarmed like vultures

around the place I once called home.
I wonder why you left in such a way,

as the depression gnawed at your gentle heart, which cared for me (page 25)

The third section, “Poetry as Bird,” focuses on writing and how writers find ideas in even the most simple things. One of my favorite poems is “Tides of Wonder” because I love these lines:

We sit nestled beside splintered
driftwood of yesterday,
stretching ten birds wing span

and dream of spreading our own wings, as poets
try to decipher which
word to pluck

from their succulent buckets
to sprinkle into a medley which
one day in their dreams
or in some reality
will blossom into famous verse. (page 43)

The last sections, “Those Fine Strings,” “Surrender,” and “The Real Solace” touch upon such topics as menopause, love, sex, finding pleasure in the mundane, and the weight of things from our past.

I love that Raab’s poetry tells a story and is full of emotion, honesty, and intimacy. Whereas some poets leave me scratching my head wondering what they might mean, the poems in Dear Anaïs easily draw me in and make me think about my own experiences. Raab details her personal journey, but because it is easy to relate to her words and the moods she creates in each poem, it feels as though she’s telling our stories, too. Raab’s letter to Nin at the beginning of Dear Anaïs says, “The poems were all written from my heart and fluctuate from a deep place of pain to a high state of joy.” (pages 7-8) Raab’s words are authentic -- you can tell she’s lived what she’s written -- and I admire her for baring her soul on the page and sharing it with the world.

Dear Anaïs: My Life in Poems for You also was reviewed by:

Savvy Verse & Wit

If you've also reviewed it, let me know in the comments, and I'll add your link!

Disclosure:  I received a free copy of Dear Anaïs: My Life in Poems for You from the author for review purposes.

The Four Corners of the Sky by Michael Malone

In The Four Corners of the Sky, Michael Malone tells the story of Annie Peregrine Goode, a Navy pilot going to visit her Aunt Sam and Uncle Clark at the family home in Emerald, North Carolina, for her 26th birthday. Annie was raised by her Aunt Sam, a movie buff who owns a video store and likes to quote old films, and Clark, a pediatrician and Sam's childhood friend. Sam is a lesbian, and Clark has been married twice, and they enjoy living together in a purely platonic relationship. Annie was abandoned by her con artist father, Jack, when she was just 7 years old. She hasn't seen her father in years, but he's brought back into her life when she receives a call from Detective Daniel Hart in Miami, who tells her that Jack is wanted by the feds for stealing a relic the Cuban government has laid claim to. Annie heard about the Queen of the Sea -- a gold statue of the Virgin Mary -- from her father when she was little, but she never believed it was real.

When she arrives home, there is a cryptic note from Jack telling her to fly the plane he gave her as a little girl, the King of the Sky, to St. Louis. He needs her help, and when Annie learns from his accomplice, Raffy Rook, that he is dying of cancer, she decides to do what she can to keep him from from spending his last days in jail. The trouble is, he's a con artist, so no one knows whether he's really dying or not.

There's a lot going on in The Four Corners of the Sky, with Annie going on a wild goose chase to locate her father and the statue's missing jewels, fighting off her soon-to-be ex-husband who wants her back, wanting her father to tell her about the mother she never knew, and uncovering the secrets of the Queen of the Sea. It wasn't hard to keep things straight, and the plot and subplots were interesting enough to keep my attention for more than 500 pages. However, the one downside to the book is its length. There were a lot of unnecessary details and events -- most in the form of flashbacks -- that could have been left out, and while they were interesting, they did nothing to move the plot along.

Malone has created a cast of eccentric characters that kept me guessing throughout. I thought Annie was likable, though I didn't always agree with how she handled matters involving her father, and Sam was a riot. Annie's soon-to-be ex, Brad, was infuriating, and Raffy was entertaining, though I couldn't figure him out for much of the book. Annie's father, Jack, was an intriguing character. He tried to groom Annie to swindle people with him, then suddenly dropped her off at his sister's house. He returned briefly only once when she was a teenager, and then he expected his grown daughter to come to his aid at the drop of a hat. I wanted to know more about what made him tick, and I was a bit disappointed that Malone didn't include more about him.

The Four Corners of the Sky touches upon what it means to be a family, learning to love and to forgive. Despite the book's length, I enjoyed the bit of mystery and watching the characters grow from their experiences. Malone is a talented writer, and I look forward to reading more of his work in the future.

The Four Corners of the Sky also was reviewed by:

Savvy Verse & Wit
A Bookworm's World
Library Queue
At Home With Books
Review From Here

If you've also reviewed it, let me know in the comments, and I'll add your link!

Disclosure:  I received a free copy of The Four Corners of the Sky from Sourcebooks for review purposes.

Passing On the Love...

I'm a little behind in posting these awards, but better late then never. My blog friends sure know how to lift my spirits when times are stressful. Thanks a bunch!



Naida of the bookworm recently created the #1 Blogger Award and gave it to me and The Girl (who was so thrilled she squealed...lol). Thanks so much! You're too kind!

I have so many blogs that I love, so I'll limit myself to 10. I'm passing this award on to:

Julie of Booking Mama
Kathy of Bermudaonion's Weblog
Dar of Peeking Between the Pages
Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit
Marie of The Boston Bibliophile
Gautami of everything distils into reading
Lilly of Reading Extravaganza
S. Krishna of S. Krishna's Books
Dawn of She Is Too Fond of Books
Nymeth of things mean a lot

I also received the Heartfelt award from Wanda of A Season to Read and Iliana of bookgirl's nightstand. Thank you both so much! I really appreciate it. This award states:

Do you reach for a cup of cocoa or tea when you’re relaxing, seeking comfort, sharing a plate of cookies with family & friends? You know that feeling you get when you drink a yummy cup of cocoa, tea ~ or a hot toddy? That is what the Heartfelt award is all about feeling warm inside. Now nominate 9 blog friends and which make you feel warm and cozy inside:

I'm passing this one on to:

Sheri of A Novel Menagerie
Janel of Janel's Jumble
Wendy of Musings of A Bookish Kitty
Kaye of Pudgy Penguin Perusals
Red lady-Bonnie of Redlady's Reading Room
Trish of Trish's Reading Nook
Luanne of A Bookworm's World
Toni of A Circle of Books
Alyce of At Home With Books



I also received the You Don't Say? award from Debbie of Wrighty's Reads and Luanne of A Bookworm's World. You are both so sweet. Thanks a bunch!

I appreciate each and every one of the comments I receive on my blog!

I'm going to pass this one on to:

Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit
Kathy of Bermudaonion's Weblog
Sandy of You've GOTTA read this!
Blodeuedd of Book girl of Mur-y-Castell
Naida of the bookworm
Dar of Peeking Between the Pages



Finally, Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit gave me the True Fairy Tale Award. Thanks so much! This award states:

The award is for the hopes that one day all your dreams will come true!! Because we all are still Cinderella's at heart!

I don't know how many I'm supposed to pass this on to, but I'm going to limit myself to 5 this time:

Wanda of A Season to Read
Staci of Life in the Thumb
Iliana of bookgirl's nightstand
Debbie of Wrighty's Reads
Ladytink of Up Close & Personal with LadyTink and The Movieholic & Bibliophile's Blog

Whew! Trying to narrow those down was exhausting. I always feel like I'm leaving someone out or not recognizing someone I should. There are so many bloggers I admire and blogs I enjoy. Does anyone else feel this way? Anyway, you all should check out these blogs if you haven't already.

Mailbox Monday -- May 11

Hope all you mothers had a wonderful Mother's Day yesterday. I enjoyed a relaxing, lazy day filled with movies, games, reading, and watching my husband do the laundry for me. Too bad it's all over. :(

Now it's time for another Mailbox Monday, hosted by Marcia from The Printed Page, where we share the books we received in the mail for review, purchased, or otherwise obtained over the last week.

I'm being very selective with review copies and avoiding the book store these days, but I still managed to receive 4 books:



A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy by Charlotte Greig (from Tony Viardo at BlueDot Literacy)



Mating Rituals of the North American WASP by Lauren Lipton (for a Hachette Early Birds Blog Tour later this month)



Tea & Other Ayama Na Tales by Eleanor Bluestein (a contest win from Savvy Verse & Wit...thanks, Serena!)



Bloody Good by Georgia Evans, the first in a paranormal trilogy set in England during WWII with Nazi vampires. There was no way I could turn down this book! (from Joan Schulhafer Publishing & Media Consulting)

What books have you welcomed into your home recently?

Giveaway: The Wonder Singer by George Rabasa

Unbridled Books would like to offer 2 copies of The Wonder Singer by George Rabasa to my readers.

If you haven't already, you can check out my review, my interview with George Rabasa, and read an excerpt from the book.

To enter:

1. Leave a comment with your email address letting me know your favorite singer.

2. If you are a follower, let me know, and I'll give you a second entry.

3. If you are a subscriber through Google Reader, Bloglines, etc., let me know, and I'll give you a third entry.

4. If you blog about it (sidebars count) or spread the word in another way, let me know, leave a link, and you'll get a fourth entry.

Please try to keep all your entries in one comment.

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada addresses only and will run until Sunday, May 17, at 11:59 EST.