My little discovery...

So I was working hard tonight at my bookstore and look what I found!

This jumped out at me and I think it's a sign that I read it...from one red headed "step/book" child to another!

Description from goodreads.com:

In a world where being of mixed-blood is a major liability, Sabina Kane has the only profession fit for an outcast: assassin. But, her latest mission threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races and Sabina must scramble to figure out which side she's on. She's never brought her work home with her---until now.

This time, it's personal.

Anybody heard of this author? Apparently it's the first in a series?

* red headed book child

Review #10: In This Way I Was Saved by Brian DeLeeuw

Title: In This Way I Was Saved

Author: Brian DeLeeuw

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Publication Date: August 2009

Format: ARC from Publisher (Thank you!)

Genre: Literature

When I read the back of this book I was really excited. It sounded mysterious and haunting, like I would be taken on a captivating adventure of adolescence. And it was set in New York, which I have said many times, is a favorite location for me.

Here is the description from the author's website:

On a chilly November afternoon, six-year-old Luke Nightingale’s life changes forever. On the playground across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, he encounters Daniel. Soon the boys are hiding from dinosaurs and shooting sniper rifles. Within hours, Luke and his mother, Claire, are welcoming Daniel into their Upper East Side apartment—and their lives.

Daniel and Luke are soon inseparable. With his parents divorcing, Luke takes comfort in having a near-constant playmate. But there’s something strange about Daniel, who is more than happy to bind himself to the Nightingales. The divorce has cut Luke’s father out of the picture, and as his increasingly fragile mother struggles with the insidious family depression, Daniel—shrewd, adventurous, and insightful—provides Luke both recreation and refuge.

As Luke grows from a child to an adolescent to a young man, he realizes that as much as his mother needs him, Daniel needs him more. Jealous of Luke’s other attachments, Daniel’s gestures of friendship turn into increasingly sinister manipulations. In the end, Luke finds himself in a daily battle for control of his own life—wondering whether he or Daniel will emerge victorious.

My Review:

This book delivered in adventure but what I got was a very raw story, dark and frightening at times. An important piece of the story is revealed early on and it creates a dramatic shift in how you see the characters. They were not just two young boys growing into men together. They were two very different creatures navigating a path conflicted with rights and wrongs.

Though at times difficult to read, I did not dislike this book. I was truly captivated up until the end, because of the sheer talent of the writing. This is the debut novel for the author. I was lured in by the devilish nature of the boys and wanted to know how they turned out. But it was startling. You try not to sum up a book simply by the description on the back but when you have a reeeeally good description and a twist happens to change that really good description, it takes some time to settle into the new direction.

The relationships of the boys into adulthood puts this novel comfortably into the adult literature category but the mishaps and adventures of the two in adolescence can also land this book in the hands of a very well read young adult.

Original, beautiful and intense, In This Way I Was Saved is a novel for a brave reader with a little time to soak it in.

My rating would be a 4=Recommended.

Happy Reading!

*red headed book child

Throwback Thursday- The Best of Everything by Rona Jaffe

Throwback Thursday –

this is a weekly event hosted by Jenny at TakeMeAway!

It is the time each week to recognize those older books… an older book you’ve always wanted to read, or one that you have read and love; maybe one from your childhood; or review an older book -- how about even a classic! Leave a comment here and feel free to take an icon and use it on your blog!

My pick:

I am going to go way back to my teenage years (yes, that's quite awhile ago). I was a...let's just say, trashy romance reader and completely proud of it. I loved Jackie Collins, VC Andrews, Judith Krantz (remember Scruples?!), Danielle Steele and Rona Jaffe. I used to go to the library almost every day after school and read until my mom picked me up. ( I lived in the country and hated the hour bus ride so I would beg my mom to let me to to the library instead!) Little did she know at the time what I was reading. he he

Well, Rona Jaffe has remained a favorite of mine throughout the years. I just get a kick out of her books. Unfortunately she has passed away now but has left a long list of novels.

My pick for Throwback Thursday is on of her firsts and best The Best of Everything. If you watch Mad Men at all, this novel is set in the same time but all about the women of the late 50s and early 60s or the "secretary pool" as they were called.

Jaffe is really good at describing New York, having been a lifetime New Yorker and the lives of these different women, having been a successful woman early in her life. It had the perfect blend of romance, ambition, betrayal, and humor.

I have since moved on from this genre though every so often I'll pick one up but I have fond memories of my early reading days.

It is an oldie but definitely a goodie, in my opinion.

Happy Reading!

*red headed book child

Superior Scribbler Award for me! Wow!

WOW! Thank you to Jessica at Book Lover's Diary for nominating me for this award. It is my very first and I just can't help channeling, once again, Sally Field during her acceptance speech at the Oscars. "You LIKE me, you REALLY like me!"

SUPERIOR SCRIBBLER AWARD

1. Each Superior Scribbler, must in turn, pass the Award on to 5 most-deserving bloggy buds.

2. Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author and name of the blog from whom he/she has received the Award.

3. Each Superior Scribbler must display the Award on his/her blog and link to this post which explains the Award. http://scholastic-scribe.blogspot.com.

4. Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on your blog.

Hmm, as for the five lovely bloggers I pass it on to...well you are all so darn special.

I will pick these 5 darling bloggers.

1. Shanyn at Chick Loves Lit.

2. April at Good Books and Good Wine.

3. Jennifer at Rundpinne.

4. Amy at My Overstuffed Bookshelf.

5. Jenny at Takemeaway.

Thanks again and of course, Happy Reading!

*red headed book child

Waiting on Wednesdays!

Waiting on Wednesdays is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick actually comes out today but I won't be able to get it until Friday, so I am still officially "anticipating". :)

from Kate DiCamillo's website:

PREORDER an autographed first edition and look for delivery around 9/22/09.

back to Novels

Candlewick Press, 2009
ISBN 978-0-76364-410-9

When a fortuneteller's tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he needs to ask: Does his sister still live? And if so, how can he find her?

The fortuneteller's mysterious answer (an elephant! An elephant will lead him there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that you will hardly dare to believe it’s true.

With atmospheric illustrations by fine artist Yoko Tanaka, here is a dreamlike and captivating tale that could only be narrated by Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo. In this timeless fable, she evokes the largest of themes—hope and belonging, desire and compassion—with the lightness of a magician’s touch.

My thoughts:

She lives in the Twin Cities and I have been fortunate to host an author event with her. She is delightful and I have read all of her books for young readers. A true delight!

Happy Reading!

*red headed book child

My First Giveaway!

Hi folks! I just have to say I am still just tickled that I have followers and I wanted to do a giveaway at some point to give back a little to my readers.

Being a new blogger I have discovered that there are many ways to get books to giveaway whether it's a publisher giveaway or a blog tour or just simply winning one yourself and passing it along.

I am slowly getting into that but for this one I decided to give away a copy of a book that I own. A book that I have apparently two copies of. (oops!) I guess when you have over 500 books, it happens. (shrug)

So the book is a hardcover copy of The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. Perfect for fall and Halloween if any of you are doing a spooky reading challenge. Or, if not, it's just a darn good book and fits the mood of this upcoming season.

My Giveaway rules for this are simple:

+1 entry: If your favorite season and holiday are Fall and Halloween!

+2 entries: If you are a New Follower (after this post)

+3 entries: If you are already a Follower (Thank you!)

Being the not-so-tech-savvy gal that I am, I doing it the old fashioned way. I'm going to pull your name out of hat. Yes, on slips of paper. That's right!

Please leave your email for me to contact you for mailing info.

Giveaway ends Septemer 15. Winner will be announced that day.

Good luck everyone.

Hey, maybe I can get to 50 followers? (and no, Mom, that doesn't mean you creating false identities! Forever a supporter of me, that lady is!)

* red headed book child

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

The rules are simple:

Grab the book you are currently reading (anything at all)

Open the book to any random page.

Share 2 "teaser" sentences from anywhere on the page.

Please Make Sure They Are Not Spoilers!

(Don't Give Too Much Away) Just enough to pique our interest.

List the book and author so other participants can get their

hand on it if they choose to read it as well.

Here is my pick:

"In all Ireland's brief disorganized history as a nation, fewer than half a dozen children have gone missing and stayed that way, and Kiernan had never been able to forget that two of these had been given into his hands and he had failed them."

"Probably he hadn't planned to kill them"

In the Woods by Tana French.

I'm loving it!

Happy Reading!

* red headed book child