It's Tuesday, Where Are You? | Teaser Tuesdays {3-31-09}

I'm somewhere in the countryside of England. I'm at the home of the Billington-Smith's. General Sir Arthur Billington-Smith is very rude to most everyone in the house, including the invited guests!

• Grab your current read
• Let the book fall open to a random page
• Share with us two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
• You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from ... that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given!
• Please avoid SPOILERS.

This week's Teaser comes from THE UNFINISHED CLUE by Georgette Heyer. These sentences come from page 33.

Every annoyance of this disastrous week-end was Fay's fault, from the unwelcome arrival of Dinah to the ill-assorted party assembled for dinner in half an hour's time. Anyone but a fool would have had the wit to wire regrets both to Dinah and (Stephen) Guest.

For more travels visit raidergirl's blog an adventure in reading. For more teasing visit MizB's blog Should Be Reading.

Buy THE UNFINISHED CLUE @ a bookstore near you!

Buy THE UNFINISHED CLUE on Amazon.

Review of: Madame Bovary

Author: Gustave Flaubert
ISBN: 9781593080525
Pages: 368
Published by: Barnes & Noble Classics (March, 2005; first published 1857)
Genre(s): Fiction, Classics, 19th Century, French Lit
Grade: B
Challenge(s): 100+ Reading Challenge - Read 'n Review '09 -


Not really a review, more like my thoughts. After reading some of the things written on SparkNotes about Madame Bovary, I realize that I miss some of the deeper meanings and themes of the book. I did really enjoy it though. I found myself empathizing with Emma. I can't really pinpoint what it was I was feeling connected to, but there was definitely something. This is one classic that I will read again.

Buy MADAME BOVARY @ a bookstore near you!

Buy MADAME BOVARY on Amazon

Musing Mondays {3-30-09}

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about recording your reading…

Do you keep track of what and/or how many books you read? How long have you been doing this? What's your favorite tracking method, and why?If you don't keep track, why not? (question courtesy of MizB)

Like our hostess, I keep track of what I'm reading in more than one way. I am currently keeping track of my 2009 reads in my post for the 100+ Reading Challenge. (You can find this list in my upper sidebar under Kylee's Links - Books I've finished in 2009.) I also have account with GoodReads and Shelfari. I don't use Shelfari anymore (too much spam). On GoodReads though I have list and lists and lists.

Visit Rebecca for more musings.

Review of: King's Fool

Author: Margaret Campbell Barnes
ISBN: 9780356017556
Pages: 304
Genre(s): Historical Fiction
Grade: A+
Challenge(s): 100+ Reading Challenge - Read 'n Review 09 - since this book has been published in the US before it DOES NOT qualify for 2009 Pub Challenge
Release Date: April 1, 2009


I’ve wanted to learn more about Will Somers since reading Philippa Gregory’s books about the women in Henry VIII’s life. How interesting it would have been to be within Henry VIII’s inner circle, but not to be considered a threat by such a powerful man.

Will Somers was in just such a position. Born in Shropshire, England Will Somers was the only son, only child actually, of a churchman father and a Welsh mother, she died of the plague when Will was only four. Will had pretty happy life until his beautiful singing voice broke at 14; his father taught the choiristers and this seemed to be their big connection. Soon after, Will moves in with his Uncle Tobias, a farmer. On his uncles' farm is where Will Somers meets Richard Fermor, a wool merchant. Meeting and becoming part of the household of Master Fermor is only the first of some very big events in the life of Will Somers.

From the back of the ARC I recieved:

When country lad Will Somers lands himself the plum position of jester to the mercurial King Henry VIII, he has no idea that he's just been handed a front-row seat to history.

With a seat near the throne and an ear to the floor, Somers witnesses firsthand the dizzying power struggles and sly scheming that marked the reign of the fiery Tudor King. Somers watches the rise and fall of some of the most enigmatic women in history, including the tragic Katherine of Aragon, the doomed Anne Boleyn, and Mary Tudor, who confided in the jester as she made the best of the fragile life of a princess whom everyone wished was a prince...

Based on the life of the real Will Somers, King's Fool is infused with Margaret Campbell Barnes's trademark rich detail and historical accuracy. This intimate peek into the royal chambers gives readers a unique view into one of the most tumultuous periods in English history.

As you can most likely guess from the grade I gave King's Fool, this book did not disappoint!

Pre-order/Buy KING'S FOOL @ a bookstore near you!

Pre-Order/Buy KING'S FOOL on Amazon

I want to thank Danielle Jackson of Sourcebooks for sending me the ARC to read and review.

For more information about my Hyacinth Award.

Here are other reviews of King's Fool by Margaret Campbell Barnes

• The Tome Traveler's Weblog
  
• historical-fiction.com
• Kittling Books
  

YAY

... just yay!

Review of: Specials

Author: Scott Westerfeld
ISBN: 9780689865404
Pages: 384
Published by: Simon Pulse (April, 2006)
Genre(s): Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Young Adult
Grade: B
Challenge(s): 100+ Reading Challenge - Read 'n Review '09 - Scott Westerfeld Mini-Challenge - 2009 Young Adult Book Challenge



Specials is book #3 in a 4 book series (#1 Uglies, #2 Pretties & #4 Extras). In Specials Tally, Shay, Fausto and others from the Crims clique have been made into Specials. But not just any Special, this group is called Cutters. All Specials have what is described as 'cruel beauty'. Tally is described this way in the first chapter "...all those operations had filled her with icy new muscles and reflexes tweaked to snakelike speed." Some of the things those operations gave to Tally, Shay and the other Cutters: bones made of aircraft ceramics and muscles sheathed with self-repairing monofiliments, flash tattoos and razor-sharp teeth and finger nails. They particular group are called Cutters because they do just that. In order to feel anything, they cut themselves.

Tally (especially) seems to only feel comfortable 'in her own skin' when she is a position to feel superior to someone or a group of people. Anyone who is Ugly or just not Special seems to make her almost physically sick, especially her sometime boyfriend Zane whose brain was damaged due to taking meds he wasn't supposed to take.

Well, I don't want to give away the whole book! I worried about issue of cutting in the book, but the way that Tally relates to cutting changes throughout the book and I like that. I hope the young people that read this realize that cutting is a wrong and dangerous way to deal with their feelings. Tally has a lot to deal with in Specials. A lot goes right and very wrong for her. She has to learn to deal with it all in the right ways; she accomplishes this in my opinion.

I've become a little ambivalent to the characters in this series. I think I will read Extras at some point; just not anytime soon.

Special Circumstances

The words have sent chills down Tally's spine since her days as a repellent, rebellious ugly. Back then Specials were a sinister rumor -- frighteningly beautiful, dangerously strong, breathtakingly fast. Ordinary pretties might live their whole lives without meeting a Special. But Tally's never been ordinary.

And now she's been turned into one of them: a super-amped fighting machine, engineered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid.

The strength, the speed, and the clarity and focus of her thinking feel better than anything Tally can remember. Most of the time. One tiny corner of her heart still remembers something more.

Still, it's easy to tune that out -- until Tally's offered a chance to stamp out the rebels of the New Smoke permanently. It all comes down to one last choice: listen to that tiny, faint heartbeat, or carry out the mission she's programmed to complete. Either way, Tally's world will never be the same.

Buy SPECIALS @ a bookstore near you!

Buy SPECIALS on Amazon

It's Tuesday, Where Are You? | Teaser Tuesdays {3-24-09}

I'm still in Paris, just like last week. I'm not anyone in particular, but I interested in finding out more of what the Bonnot Gang is up to.

• Grab your current read
• Let the book fall open to a random page
• Share with us two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
• You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from ... that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given!
• Please avoid SPOILERS.

This week's Teaser comes from THE CRIMES OF PARIS by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler. These sentences come from the ARC so they may vary slightly from the finished version (out April 3, 2009).

He was sent back to a cell at La Santé Prison to think things over. He would remain there for fifteen months before a trial began.

For more travels visit raidergirl's blog an adventure in reading. For more teasing visit MizB's blog Should Be Reading.

Pre-Order/Buy THE CRIMES OF PARIS @ a bookstore near you!

Pre-Order/Buy THE CRIMES OF PARIS @ Amazon

Musing Mondays {3-23-09}

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about bookstores…

How many bookstores do you frequent? Do you have a favorite? If so, which one and what makes it so?

There is a Borders in the mall here. The mall is about a 5 minute drive from our apartment. That is the book store we go to most often for new books. We also go to a (huge) B&N about 20 minutes from here. The nearest indie store is about 40 minutes from where we live. We haven't been to this store yet, but we do plan on it.

The store we shop most often recently is our local Goodwill store. We've made some pretty great finds there!

Review of: Pretties

Author: Scott Westerfeld
ISBN: 9780689865398
Pages: 384
Published by: Simon Pulse (November, 2005)
Genre(s): Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Young Adult
Grade: B
Challenge(s): 100+ Reading Challenge - Read 'n Review '09 - Scott Westerfeld Mini-Challenge - 2009 Young Adult Book Challenge


Pretties is the second in a four books series (#1 Uglies, #3 Specials, #4 Extras) by author Scott Westerfeld. As I stated in my review of Uglies, I became aware of this series through my oldest daughter. Pretties picks up a few months after Uglies ends. Tally is now pretty and living/partying in New Pretty Town. Other than that it almost felt like I was reading Uglies again. However, I found myself zipping right through this one (and the next) in just a few days. Again, I had to know what happened to Tally, Shay and the rest. Not sure what that says about me...

My review of Specials will be more in-depth. Quite frankly, I am writing this about 3 months after I read Pretties. I'm going to skip through Specials and re-read some of the chapters to refresh my memory.

Tally has finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she's completely popular. It's everything she's ever wanted.

But beneath all the fun -- the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom -- is a nagging sense that something's wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally's ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what's wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold.
Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life -- because the authorities don't intend to let anyone with this information survive.

Buy PRETTIES @ a bookstore near you!

Buy PRETTIES on Amazon

Booking Through Thursday {3-19-09}

How about, “What’s the worst ‘best’ book you’ve ever read — the one everyone says is so great, but you can’t figure out why?”

The Safety of Secrets. I found the two women in this book annoying. I saw lots of people saying that they enjoyed it. I'm sure there are books that I loved that other's didn't like. There are plenty of book around; there's something for everyone's tastes. If you're interested, here is my review.

For more BTT!

Challenge Update #1 -- Reading Wrap-Up

I haven't done a Reading Wrap-Up since I wrapped up December's reads. I thought I'd combine a wrap-up for January, February and the first half of March with an update on where I stand with my Reading Challenges.

In January I finished:

• Emily Post by Laura Claridge
• The Smart One by Ellen Meister
• Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
• Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

In February I finished:

• A Day with My Dad at the Beach by Lance Waite
• King's Fool by Margaret Campbell Barnes

In March I have finished (so far):

• Baron Thinks Dog are People Too! by Laurie Dean
• Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

Now for Challenge Updates!

1. 100+ Reading Challenge -- 8/100
2. 18th & 19th Century Woman Writer's Challenge -- 0/4
3. 2009 Pub Challenge -- 0/9 {I am currently reading THE CRIMES OF PARIS which qualifies for this challenge.}
4. 2009 Support Your Local Library Challenge -- 0/12
5. 2009 Young Adult Book Challenge -- 2/12
6. American Civil War Reading Challenge -- 0/12
7. Genre Challenge -- 2/12
8. John Steinbeck Mini-Challenge -- 0/2
9. Pulizter Prize Challenge -- 0/5
10. Scott Westerfeld Mini-Challenge -- 2/2
11. Well-Seasoned Reader Challenge -- 0/3 {In all honesty, I forgot about this challenge. It ends in 2 weeks...}
12. What's in a Name? 2 -- 1/6
13. Winter Holiday Reading Challenge -- There was no set # to read; I read an anthology of 4 stories and a book.
14. The World Citizen Challenge -- 0/1

I will skip the Reading/Challenge Wrap-Up for March, but on May 2nd I will post a wrap-up that covers March 18 - April 30. After that I will resume regular monthly wrap-ups!

It's Tuesday, Where Are You? | Teaser Tuesdays {3-17-09}

I am presently in Paris, France. Time is a bit fluid at the moment, but is staying mostly between 1880 and the 1910's.

• Grab your current read
• Let the book fall open to a random page
• Share with us two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
• You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from ... that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given!
• Please avoid SPOILERS.

This week's Teaser comes from THE CRIMES OF PARIS by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler. These sentences come from the ARC so they may vary slightly from the finished version (out April 3, 2009).

Shortly after Picquet passed through the Salon Carre, a door to a storage closet opened and a man (or men, for it was never proved whether the thief worked alone) emerged. He had been in there since the previous day -- Sunday, the museum's busiest, as that was the only day most Parisians had off from work.

For more travels visit raidergirl's blog an adventure in reading. For more teasing visit MizB's blog Should Be Reading.

Pre-Order/Buy THE CRIMES OF PARIS @ a bookstore near you!

Pre-Order/Buy THE CRIMES OF PARIS @ Amazon

Musing Mondays {3-16-09}

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about talking to strangers…

We were all warned as children to 'never talk to strangers', but how do you feel about book-talk with random people? When you see people reading, do you ask what it is? Do you talk to people in the book store or the library? Why or why not? What do you do if people talk to you? (question courtesy of Dena)

If I'm just "out and about", I'll look to see what the title is, but won't start a conversation. If it's in a bookstore or library, yes! I don't know why the setting makes the difference to me. I wouldn't mind if someone started a conversation with me about whatever I happened to be reading at the time. No one does around here though. I think that's what lead me to blogging and the book related online communities to begin with. I'd love it if someone sat down next to me and started a conversation about a book!

Visit Just One More Page for more!

Make Kylee Read Me - winner

Here's how it broke down!

The House of Mirth - Edith Wharton	IIIII (5)
The Shipping News - E. Annie Proulx	I (1)
Middlemarch - George Elliot	II (2)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith	IIII (4)
Three Junes - Julia Glass	II (2)

The winner of "Make Kylee Read Me" is The House of Mirth, by one vote! I picked up a used copy at my local Goodwill store this weekend. No more excuses. =)

This post is inspired by the most recent Booking Through Thursday question. Also, I will still be reading a book with my 15yo daughter this summer; most likely To Kill a Mockingbird.

Review of: The Smart One

Author: Ellen Meister
ISBN: 9780061129629
Pages: 384
Published by: Avon A (August 2008)
Genre(s): Mystery, ChickLit, Humor
Grade: B+
Challenge(s): 100+ Reading Challenge - Read 'n Review '09



When I first got this book I was excepting your typical chick-lit, which I enjoy now and then. I personally need to read something light and fluffy after something heavy and dragging just to get my head back on straight. The Smart One was perfect for that. Up until the industrial drum was discovered in the neighbors basement. It is a great read! Bev, Clare and Joey are really funny (though I don't think Clare realizes how funny she is).

There are elements of quite a few genres in The Smart One. Definitely chick-lit, but also, mystery, romance, family strife, humor, and suspense. In my opinion, any fan of chick-lit or romance will really enjoy The Smart One by Ellen Meister. Below is the blurb from the back of the book.

Bev is the Smart One, who finally leaves her artistic ambitions in chalk dust (and her humor-impaired husband in the arms—and legs—of his nubile protégée) to become a schoolteacher. Clare is the Pretty One, who married well and seems to be living a designer version of the suburban dream. Joey is the Wild One, struggling to stay clean and sober now that she's used up her fifteen minutes of fame as a one-hit-wonder rock star.

They love each other but mix like oil, water, and hundred-proof gin . . . a combination that threatens to combust over family tensions, suspected infidelities, a devastating accident, a stunning confession, and the sudden reappearance of their handsome, now all-grown-up former neighbor, Kenny Waxman, who's back in town making his mark as a TV comedy writer.
It seems they'll never understand where their differences begin and their own destructive tendencies end. Then it happens: the sisters discover a decades-old body stuffed inside an industrial drum and begin a bold, heartbreaking, and sometimes hilarious journey that will either bring them together . . . or tear them apart for good.

Renee Giroux at IJustFinished sent me a copy of The Smart One for review. Thank you, Renee.

Buy THE SMART ONE @ IndieBound

Buy THE SMART ONE @ Amazon

Kylee's 2009 Blog by Kylee's 2009 is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

Musing Mondays {3-9-09}

What is your policy when it comes to new authors? Do you feel comfortable purchasing a book or do you prefer to borrow new authors from the library? How often do you 'try out' a new author? 

In general I don't buy books my new (and new to me) authors. I will however, borrow and on rare occasions buy, a book by a new (or new to me) author. If the author or a specific book is highly recommended to me by someone with very similar tastes I may take the chance and buy it.

More March Musings

Kylee's 2009 Blog by Kylee's 2009 is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

Friday Fill-In {3-6-09} #114

And...here we go! 

1. Getting up this morning was my last random act of kindness.
2. Another place to live would be nice.
3. Keep yourself open in matters of the heart.
4. Coffee, tea or hot chocolate.
5. Join your separate paths.
6. Our daughters reminds me that there is always a reason to laugh.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to visiting my mom and step-dad, tomorrow my plans include visiting the RISD campus and Sunday, I want to write!

For more Friday Fill-Ins.

Booking Through Thursday {3-5-09}

We’ve all seen the lists, we’ve all thought, “I should really read that someday,” but for all of us, there are still books on “The List” that we haven’t actually gotten around to reading. Even though we know they’re fabulous. Even though we know that we’ll like them. Or that we’ll learn from them. Or just that they’re supposed to be worthy. We just … haven’t gotten around to them yet.
What’s the best book that YOU haven’t read yet?

I'm going to choose my top five from Jezebel's 75 Books Every Woman Should Read. I read this list (and copy/pasted it into my files) back in Sept with the intention of "Someday I'll look it over and pick some to read... someday"; today is the perfect day!

Here is my top 5 list- in no particular oder:

• The House of Mirth - Edith Wharton
• The Shipping News - E. Annie Proulx
• Middlemarch - George Elliot
• A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith
• Three Junes - Julia Glass

There are many more on the list that I intend to read 'someday' and some that I have already read (stay tuned for that list!). Simlar to BethF I'd like you to challenge me to read ONE book from this list before the end of 2009. Depending on the book with the most votes I may read it over the summer with my 15 year old daughter. We plan on reading a book this summer as a mother-daughter bonding thing. =) Especially since she may be going to a program at RISD the summer of 2010 or 2011.

So leave a comment below and I will read the most voted for book!

Updated 9:58am: Forgot to link to BTT!!! Here is the link to this week's post.