First Entry for Everything Austen Challenge

Yes, that’s right.  It’s the first day of the challenge and I’m logging in my first entry.  Okay, I technically finished two days ago but I thought I’d wait for the official start to the challenge.  I just couldn’t wait!

I read an ARC of Loving Mr. Darcy by Sharon Lathan.  The book is due out in September, 2009.  I picked it up at BEA 2009 because I just can’t pass up anything Austen-related.

Six months into his marriage to Elizabeth Bennet, Darcy is still awestruck by his beautiful wife and their unparalleled love and passion.  For Darcy, each day offers more opportunities to surprise and delight his beloved wife.

Elizabeth has quickly adapted to being the Mistress of Pemberley, charming everyone she meets and handling her duties with grace and poise.  Just when it seems life can’t get any better, Elizabeth gets the most wonderful news.

This book is different from the Austen “sequels” I’ve read.  It reads more like a Harrlequin romance novel.  Elizabeth and Darcy are quite amorous and their are love scenes every few pages.  And, while a few were well done, I found most of the loving lacking.  Maybe it was just too much.  A few well-placed scenes are always appreciated, but too many just kill the tension!  I think this book suffers from too much of a good thing.

The story covers a few months in the Darcys’ marriage after the couple hear they are expecting.  The Darcys go to London for part of the season and to introduce Elizabeth to the ton.  There are many characters during this time.  It was helpful that the author provided a “cast of characters” at the beginning of the book to identify them all.  After the season, the Darcys travel some through the county.

Throughout the story, the author refers to an illness Elizabeth suffers after Darcy is in a duel.  Yet, they never give the details of this “mysterious” event.  This wasn’t in P&P and I just don’t remember, was it?  I kept waiting for the author to reveal the information, but she never did.

The couple does face one  hardship near the end of the novel that I won’t describe here.  There is some foreshadowing of the event in the novel.  The author does write this part well and I was sitting on the edge of my seat during the episode.

The ending of the novel is a little disappointing.  We never make it to the birth of the baby.  Was it a girl or a boy like they assumed?  Was Darcy still as helpful and involved after the baby arrives?  So many questions that were never addressed.

As for Darcy,  he’s a different man since marrying Elizabeth.  I think he’s a little too different.  We see very brief glimpses of the Darcy of P&P, but instead some lovesick man.  It was just a little over the top.

Over all, I’m not sure I’d recommend this one for you Austen fans out there.  But, if you love a lusty romance, definitely pick this one up.

Book Tour — Beyond the Code of Conduct by K.M. Daughters

PUMP UP YOUR BOOK PROMOTION VIRTUAL BOOK TOURS PRESENTS

Beyond the Code of Conduct

by K. M. Daughters

Here’s another addition to my summer blog tours for Pump Up Book Promotion Tours.  Beyond the Code of Conduct by K. M. Daughters came out in paperback in April, 2009.    Correction: This book is written by a sister/sister team.  I would definitely feel more comfortable writing the sexy scenes with a sister (I think, as I’m an only child). But, the two ladies got the job done, and did it well.

FBI Agency Brass and Sullivan family connections force Special Agent Bobbie Leighton into an undercover operation with inactive Homicide Detective Joe Sullivan.  Posing as a wealthy Texas cattleman and his arm-candy wife the two are assigned to infiltrates Bradley Sterling’s black-market operation.  Suspected of baby -trafficking, Sterling may be connected with Jimmy Sullivan’s murder.  How do Bobbie and Joe adhere to their professional code of conduct living under the same roof?  Can they forget their personal history, ignore their volatile feelings for each other and ensnare their target when they might be next on Sterling’s victims list?

This short novel, at 169 pages, is a quick read, fun read.  There is definitely lots of sexual tension between the characters that is acted upon in a few sexy scenes.  The authors slowly unfold the backstory between the two main characters which adds to the tension between the couple for the reader.  Hints were given about their previous relationship and it’s end without giving the full story until later.  I kept wondering, “what’s with these two?”  Of course, the authors  let us know in bits and pieces until it all makes sense.

The thriller part of the book seemed secondary to the romance.  It was more about how the romance was affected by the case rather than the actual case.   Nevertheless, the baby-trafficking bad guy did add more suspense into the book.

Overall, I would say this is a light, fun read for the beach season!

Thanks, K.M. Daughters, for the authographed book and chance to read your novel.

I Finished!! Finally! But it was worth it!

Well, I started The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss about three weeks ago.  I finished it yesterday.  I never take that long.  I did revisit a couple of old favorites while I was reading this one and I was very busy at home.  But, still, three weeks?!

I read this book on  a recommendation from Fuzzy Cricket.  You should definitely checkout her review of this book.  I often add books to my TBR after looking around the blogosphere, but this review had me heading to to the library immediately.

This is a fantasy book about a man(?) named Kvothe.  He is a legend in his world, but is now trying to retire as an innkeeper.  A Chronicler finds him and Kvothe decides to tell his story.  Kvothe tells the Chronicler it should take at least 3 days to tell his story.  The Name of the Wind is only the first day (at 665 pages).

I have to admit, it took awhile to get into this book.  When Kvothe was describing his childhood as a troupe member and his earliest teacher, I had trouble getting interested.  I think part of the problem is the names of the characters.  I always struggle when  there are unusual names to remember that aren’t like Joe, Mary, etc but are Kvote, Bast, Tehlu…. That’s my issue, though.  This is a fantasy book after all.

Once Kvote reaches the University, the story really picks up.  There is a lot going on and it is very intriguing.  Kvothe really starts to mature as a character.  He is so amazing you start to wonder if he’s man or something more.  He is very kind until he is crossed.  The author does a great job showing Kvothe’s development while still including the angst that a teenager feels at age 15.  This really added to the development of the character.

I think all the characters were well done (and there were many of them).  While only Kvothe is done is such depth, the author provides many other people that add to the story overall, especially Denna.  She is such an interesting character and plays an important role in the story.  But, the author leaves us not quite understanding her.  He provides some suggestions, but the reader is still having to guess right along with Kvothe.

There seems to be several interlocking ministories.  They add some mystery to the book.  It wanted me to keep reading to find out how it all fit together.  Of course, we aren’t given all the answers in book one.

As I finished the book, I was left thinking about what exactly the author was trying to say.  It was a wonderful story, once I got into it.  The importance of names was a big theme in the novel.    The author talks alot about how Kvothe is know by different names for different reasons.  Kvothe spends time trying to study with the Master Namer at the university to learn more about the power of names.  I’ll have to think about this some more.

Thank you, Fuzzy Cricket, for the recommendation.  The book was a challenge for me, but one I’m glad I took!

Up for the Austen Challenge

My good buddy over at Stephanie’s Written Word is hosting a challenge right up my alley.  It is everything Jane Austen.  As my regular readers know, I LOVE Jane Austen and and anything Jane Austen-esque.  If you search through this blog, you will see numerous entries in this genre.  In fact, I thought I wouldn’t have anything to add to join this challenge.  But, of course, I was able to find some really good suggestions that I haven’t read/seen yet.  So, I’m in!!!

Here’s my Austen-plan:

1. Read two of Jane Austen’s original novels I haven’t read yet (I recently bought a compilation of Jane Austen’s seven novels, so I’m all set there).

• Persuasion
• Mansfield Park

2.  Read the ARC I picked up at BEA 2009 this year:

• Loving Mr. Darcy by Sharon Lathan

3.   Get Stephanie to lend me a copy of the this book after she posts her review:

• Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler

4.   Check out Fuzzy Cricket’s ideas for Jane Austen (it sounds like it could become a series!!):

• And This is Our Life: Chrionicles of the Darcy Family Book 1 by Carey Bligard

5.  And, as a throwback to the years of choosing pick your own adventures books, I’m choosing a Jane Austen version:

• Lost in Austen-Create Your Own Jane Austen Adventure by  Emma Campbell Webster.

While that’s only a list of five, it’s six bullets!!  I will read these all before January 1, 2010.  Maybe I’ll even throw in a movie here or there!

I look forward to reading everyone else’s posts for this challenge.  I would love to add to my Jane Austen obsession.

Thanks, Stephanie!!

Guest Post — Soup In the City author Kelly Hollingsworth

A few weeks ago, I reviewed a new chick-lit book, Soup in the City, by Kelly Hollingsworth.  I really enjoyed the book, but had made a comment about how over-the-top I thought the main character was.  I said I find this happens in many of the chick-lit books I’ve read and I wondered why.

Well, Kelly asked me about these comments.  I responded to her and then asked if she would be willing to write a guest post on this subject from the author’s point of view.  I thought it would be interesting to hear an author’s thought about her protagonist.  So, with no further ado, here is what Kelly had to say>>>>

Is She Done Yet?

A not-too-serious analysis of overblown chick lit characters

In her recent review of Soup in the City, my first novel, Nicole Baker wondered why chick lit characters are so often “a little overdone.”

This question scattered my thoughts in a zillion different directions, which surprised me, because I’m usually pretty solid in my opinions. Immediately upon reading Nicole’s review, however, I felt the following simultaneous and somewhat paradoxical emotions:

• embarrassment that my character was so overdone;
• complete denial that anything about this character was overdone;
• smug confidence that the character was just the right amount of overdone;
• freaked out that I have no idea what I’m doing as an author.

I wasn’t at all worried about the freaked-out part, because if I wanted to feel good about myself, I definitely wouldn’t have become a writer. But the feelings about whether or not this character was overdone were so conflicting they fairly screamed for further examination.

In the face of my angst, Nicole generously offered to let me analyze my thoughts on this topic in a guest blog spot. I’ve been pondering over-the-top characters for the last few weeks, and here’s what I’ve come up with:

First, for those of you who haven’t read Soup in the City, Avery is a well-meaning but misguided NYC girl who decides a sable coat will catapult her into the social life of her dreams. She finds a gently used sable on E-Bay and picks it up for a cool fifty grand. This purchase, coupled with the abrupt end of her income, topples Avery’s house of credit cards. She winds up homeless in the high-rent district, squatting at her friend’s ultra-high end apartment but without money for basic necessities like food or even bus fare to look for a job.

Is this over-the-top? The evidence certainly points that way. The fraction of women who are able to buy any sable coat, whether used or new, is infinitesimally small. In doing research for this book, I tried on a new sable at a Fifth Avenue fur salon. The coat was on clearance, but it still had a six-figure price tag ($130,000, to be exact). Even among those women who could afford such an extravagant purchase, most would put the money to better use (although with the state of the markets today, I’m not quite sure what that use would be). In any case, under these facts, I must admit to writing an over-the-top character. There’s just no way to sidestep this accusation.

But the more important question is whether this was necessary. After much analysis, I’ve decided that it was, for a few reasons.

First, I wanted to explore several themes with this book, and illumination is usually found in the extremes.

Of course it’s over-the-top to buy a sable coat thinking it will change your life, but most of us have purchased something we couldn’t afford (shoes, handbags, $180 jeans) to impress someone or simply to maintain our place in the social circle we inhabit. Our purchases and credit-card problems aren’t as notable as Avery’s, so we generally accept them as a necessary part of life.

But are they really? Probably not. I wrote Soup in the City as America’s financial crisis was just gathering steam, and I was kicking myself for all the seldom-worn, sadistic sandals in my closet. When I plunked down the cash for these shoes, I thought they would change my life. But the shoes seemed quite silly once mortgage payments and health insurance premiums were breathing down my neck like hungry wolves.

Because Avery enjoyed a rather fantastic income, she was able to indulge the tendencies we all have, but in a much bigger way. When a closet full of fancy shoes, clothes and handbags failed to impress, she decided to bludgeon her way into a Carrie Bradshaw-like existence with one purchase so noteworthy everyone would have to sit up and pay attention.

And guess what? It didn’t work, and the catastrophic consequences of her failed one-upmanship were abundantly clear. By drawing Avery in the extremes, I hoped to illustrate the folly of our own, more mundane financial decisions, and how damaging they can be.

The same goes for the nature of addiction, another theme explored in the book (in Avery’s case, extreme dieting and the crazed binging that inevitably follows). Lots of chick lit books deal with addiction of one sort or another, and addiction is necessarily extreme, particularly when it’s not white-washed with social editing. If you know an addict, you probably don’t know the depths of her problem, because it’s highly sanitized for public consumption.

With an addictive fictional character, on the other hand, you get to live in her head. You get to see, first-hand, the self-destructive things she does to herself, and how out-of-control she really is. This rare glimpse into someone’s private thoughts is bound to seem overdone, because it’s not diffused through the politeness screen that filters almost every conversation.

I also think it was necessary to make Avery a little larger than life for the pure entertainment value that creates. We all know lots of girls with credit card problems, a few extra pounds they’d like to lose, and slimy boyfriends they should lose. That’s the stuff of everyday life, and not what inspires us to pick up a book and read it from cover to cover. Most of us use fiction as a means of escape—we want to be taken somewhere new, and perhaps witness something a little outrageous in the process.

For all of the foregoing reasons, Avery is a little outrageous. But I love her and stand by her, just the same.

The Accidental Bestseller by Wendy Wax

PUMP UP YOUR BOOK PROMOTION VIRTUAL BOOK TOURS PRESENTS

THE ACCIDENTAL BESTSELLER

by Wendy Wax

I was lucky enough to have a chance to read this new book which came out in paperback on June 2.  I wouldn’t be surprised if it makes the bestseller list and it would be no accident.

Once upon a time four aspiring authors met at their very first writers’ conference. Ten years later they’re still friends, survivors of the ultra-competitive New York publishing world. Mallory St. James is a workaholic whose bestsellers support a lavish lifestyle. Tanya Mason is a single mother juggling two jobs, two kids, and too many deadlines. Faye Truett is the wife of a famous televangelist and the author of inspirational romances: no one would ever guess her explosive secret. Kendall Aims’s once-promising career is on the skids—and so is her marriage. Her sales are dismal, her new editor detests her work—and her husband is cheating. Barely able to think, let alone meet her final deadline, Kendall holes up in a mountain cabin to confront a blank page and a blanker future. But her friends won’t let her face this trial alone. Together they collaborate on a novel using their own lives as fodder, assuming no one will ever discover the truth behind their words.

No one is more surprised than they are when the book becomes a runaway bestseller. But with success comes scrutiny and scandal…as these four best friends suddenly realize how little they’ve truly known each other.

I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it, especially to book lovers who have an interest in how the whole publishing world works (which means all you bloggers out there who went to BEA).  This book offers so much:  believable characters, interesting story,  a little romance with some suspense thrown in for good measure.

The four main women in this book were unique.  Coming from such different places, I was a little surprised how close their relationship with each other really was.  Thinking about it objectively, the group doesn’t seem believable, but somehow the author made me believe it and enjoy it.  These four women moved mountains to help each other.  It was comforting to see such love between women.  However, I deal feel the extent of the secrecy between them all was a little much.  With such intimacy on other levels, I was a little surprised how far the women went to keep secrets from each other.  But, of course, this secrecy drove the plot.

As for the plot, I couldn’t believe how drawn in I was.  When reading the synopsis of the book when it was offered to me, I thought it would be mostly a character-driven book (which I usually enjoy).  But, there was a real plot.  You’re only half way through the book when the novel the characters collaborate on is published.  There’s still a lot more to the story.  The author builds the suspense throughout the book.  I couldn’t to see what happened when the other shoe dropped, as you knew it would.  She didn’t disappoint me.

The inside look at the publishing industry was also fun.  I have a friend trying to get in the door and I never realized all the hurtles she has to face.  And, I just figured once a book was sold you had it made.  Not true.  The struggle only just begins.  I loved riding the roller coaster publishing with these four authors.

I think this book would have been great for my book club.  These four women are much more interesting than the four women from The Ten Year Nap (Can you tell that book really bothered me for some reason? I can’t stop talking about it even though I didn’t like it).  Anyway, this book also offers lots of topics to discuss with friends.

One little note, the book talks about writing love scenes a lot, but never gives us a real taste of these sexy scenes.  That may have been nice!

The Verdict Is In…The Ten-Year Nap Discussion

As I “struggled” with my mixed feelings concerning The Ten-Year Nap by Meg Wolitizer, I was interested to see how my bookclub would take it.  It was quite a discussion AND relatively short.

The seven ladies that attended the meeting seemed to agree, The Ten-Year Nap felt like a ten year nap.  Many of them commented that they kept waiting for something to happen.  And, they were a little embarrassed to say  they only  got excited with Ian crashing to the beach and the possible affair turned expense accout stealing (and thought that was a little anti-climatic).

A couple of my book club friends felt shocked by some of the behaviors of these mothers.  One mother was really upset with Jill and her feelings for Nadia.  Many of us were a little weired out with the mother who nursed another mother’s baby.  Yet, one of our bookclubbers admitted she would do the same thing (after a discussion with the baby’s mother).    None of us thought much of any of the characters.  I know I didn’t like any of them.

We had some conversations about feminism, marriage, friendship and parenting.  This discussion did lead to some “getting to know” each other better comments.  In that respect, this book was fun.  We did have a good time laughing and telling the women who didn’t finish or read the book the things they missed.  When retelling some of the points of the book, it sounded unbelievable.   I commented that I was a little disappointed that the book was not as balanced as I had hoped.  Some of the others seemed to agree.

All in all, the group put this book near the bottom of the list of books we’ve read.  Then, we started to discuss which books we’ve read that were good and were bad.  There was definitely some different opinions here.  But, The Ten Year Nap didn’t make the top on anyone’s list.

STAY TUNED TOMORROW FOR A REVIEW OF THE ACCIDENTAL BESTSELLER by WENDY WAX…….Let’s just say, this one is a winner!

Reading Traffic Jam

My books are piling up (glad I have lots to read), but I’m starting to get a little overwhelmed.  Which doesn’t make sense since reading is suppossed to be my relaxing activity.  I don’t like to feel like it’s getting to be something different.  Different how, I’m not sure.  I feel like I’m not keeping up.  I’m not sure what I’m not keeping up with.

One of my favoirte all-around blogs, Fuzzy Cricket, recommended The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.  I ran out to the library and picked it up right after I read her review.  It’s a very, very long book.  I’m enjoying it.  It’s kind of a fantasy novel (although the library has it categorized as science fiction).  The writing is very good and the main character is intriguing.  I want to know more about him.  His story is unfolding slowly.  It’s not a fast read, but an enjoyable one.  I still have a ways to go.

Part of the problem is stress.  I’ve been very stressed with work, end-of-year activites, etc.  You know, regular living.  When I get like this, I turn to my old favorite escape, the Twilight series.  After checking out the trailer for New Moon on the internet, I jumped back into reading the novels.  Just reread New Moon and Eclipse.  Of course, that has slowed down my progress on The Name of the Wind.    Do you have a go to book that you pull out when you need to escape?

Then, I’ve been lucky enough to be contacted to join a couple of blog tours for June.  I’m up for two books that are right up my alley, so I’m happy I’ve had to chance to get them to review for you.  I just have to get to them in time.  But, I will persevere now that work is slowing down.  So, check back for:

The Accidental Bestseller by Wendy Wax  on June 19

Beyond the Code of Coduct by K. M. Daughters on June 26

I don’t want reading to become something that’s stressful.  So, I’m going to take a deep breath, sit down, read, and not worry too much about my pace.  It’s okay if I take some time with a good read.  Reading isn’t a race.  It’s an escape…..

SAHM VS Working Mom — The Ten Year Nap

Our book club picked The Ten Year Nap by Meg Wolitzer this month based on my recommendation.  I had won this book from Iiliana over at Bookgirl’s Nightstand last year.  It’s a book about mothers who are struggling with being stay-at-home moms now that their children are 10.  I thought this would be a great book discussion for our book club since we have both SAHM and WM.  After finally reading it though, I’m nervous about attending our next meeting.

The book centered around four moms that met in NYC and regularly got together each week at a coffee shop after dropping their sons at a private boys school in the City.  The chapters alternated between the women giving their perspective of themselves, each other, and other women/men they knew.  The book focused on the women’s feelings surrounding their daily life  and their perceptions of working mothers.

I have very mixed feelings about this book.  First, I like the concept of the book.  I could relate to some of the feelings of the mothers.  I struggled with staying home vs. working when my kids were born.  I just didn’t know what I wanted to do (actually I still don’t, so I’ve compromised with PT work).  However, I felt like this book was a little too preachy.  The women were very judgmental of themselves as well as others, but mostly others.  I didn’t feel like it was told in a productive way.

The chapters were long and not much happened.  I usually don’t mind a book that doesn’t have a lot of action when I feel like the characters keep me interested. But,  I felt like the characters were just negative (most of them, not all) and not a lot of change was occurring.  Some acceptance occurred, but not with any positive feelings about it.

As for the title of the book, I get it, but I kind of resent it.  Staying at home with the kids is anything BUT a nap.  I guess after reading the book I understand the author was saying that some of these women felt like they’d been “sleeping” and no longer knew who they were.  They wanted to wake up and find themselves again.  But, the conotation was there, in my opinion, that SAHMs have it easy.

My opinion on this subject is this:  it’s a personal choice (hopefully) or a necessity when it comes to working or staying home.  I don’t understand why people get so judgemental about one side or the other.  I can see the difficulties of both camps, hence my indecision about what I really want to do.  I just think mothers (all) should support each other rather than spend time judging the working habits of others.

I hope my book club can have a positive discussion of this book, even though it was a relatively negative one.  We’ll see.  They may stop letting me pick any books.  My picks haven’t been much fun!

Latest Sookie Novel and Upcoming True Blood Season 2 Premiere

I recently read the latest in the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris, Dead and Gone.  I can’t believe I’ve read nine of these books in the last couple of months.  But, I’m hooked on this series.  In this one, Sookie ends up in the middle of a Fairy war as the great-granddaughter of the Fairy Prince.  How does she get mixed up with EVERY supernatural group?  What’s possibly left for her?The focus of #9 is definitely not the vampires.  Although, there is growing “tension” between Sookie and Eric.  And, of course, Bill makes an important appearance, too.  But, the main focus seems to be Sookie’s great-grandfather and the Fairy world unfolding in the supernatural world.  Sookie finds out more about her family and some family secrets are revealed.  Her brother finds out about their “extended” family and he and Sookie actually start on the road to reconciliation.   Charlaine Harris does leave us wanting more by ending the book with Sookie’s great-grandfather telling her that the vampire really loves her and Sookie wondering, “which vampire?”  That’s what I want to know.

The more I read these books, the more outrageous they seem to be getting.  But they are so much fun!  Of course, I am partial to vampire stories lately.  I like to be able to escape reality sometimes and think about other worlds.  The Sookie books are fun fantasies.  And, of course, who can resist a love triangle which includes two gorgeous vampires.

I could do without Sookie’s brother’s storyline.  Especially on the TV show.  HBO changed that story line quite a bit from the first novel in Season 1 of True Blood.  I’m not enjoying that so much.  I prefer the focus on Sookie.

As for the HBO series, I’m not sure what to say.  I tried watching it when it first came out and before I knew about the books.  I made it through one episode and wasn’t impressed.  I stopped watching.  I then heard about the books and instantly got hooked.  So, I attempted the series again.  And, got hooked.  I’m a sucker for a series.    But, I don’t think the show is that great (too much unnecessary sex.  Yes, that’s possible.  I actually find myself blushing when I’m watching the show alone).  But, I still watch and I  am  still excited for Season 2 to start next Sunday.  The DVR is set!  Will season 2 follow Book 2?  I wonder…..

You can check out updates on True Blood on Twitter.