Musings of a Bookish Kitty: June 2013

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Cat Thursday: Bath Time (Part 3)

Welcome to the weekly meme hosted by The True Book Addict that celebrates cats; their foibles and humorousness and the joy they bring. You can join in by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you made or came across, cat art or share with us pics of your own felines, then post your link up at The True Book Addict.

© 2013, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Bookish Thoughts: Boyfriend from Hell & Damn Him to Hell by Jamie Quaid

Boyfriend From Hell (Saturn's Daughter #1) by Jamie Quaid

Pocket Books, 2012

Fantasy; 400 pgs

Source: I purchased an e-copy for my own reading pleasure.

Damn Him to Hell (Saturn's Daughter #2) by Jamie Quaid

Pocket Books, 2013

Fantasy, 368 pgs

Source: I received a copy via NetGalley from the publisher for review.

In a market flooded by urban fantasy and paranormal novels, they can all start to sound similar after awhile. I admire the author who takes a chance and tries to create her own world among the existing ones. Jamie Quaid certainly adds her own spin to the genre with the Zone, a hodge podge of toxic waste and magical happenings.

Justine "Tina" Clancy doesn't know much about the Zone, only that it is the only place she could get a job. She has to pay her way through law school somehow, and although she's not sure how she'll become a licensed lawyer given her arrest record, she's hoping somehow she can get it expunged from her record.

Tina is your average woman. There's nothing particularly remarkable about her. She has a limp caused during her arrest and takes great pains to fade into the background, not wanting to draw attention to herself. When her boyfriend doesn't pick her up like planned one day after work, her anger flares. When she does see him, coming right at her in her own car, she damns him to hell--not really anticipating that's where he would go. And suddenly Tina isn't so average anymore.

Tina's strong sense of justice soon lands her in a heap of trouble. She isn't quite sure if her "gift" to met out justice is a byproduct of the Zone or if it is something else entirely. Could she really be one of Saturn's Daughter's? On top of this new found "gift" of hers, she starts suspecting that the car crash was more than what it seemed. Did someone cut Max's brakes? And if so, who? The more questions Tina asks, the more trouble seems to come her way.

Always one to go it on her own, Tina realizes she may be in over her head, and finds she has more friends than she realized. The cast of characters in Quaid's novel are eccentric to say the least. There is an invisible thief, a kitten that is more than he seems, a shape shifting woman that has more in common with Tina than she at first realizes, and that hunky but shady boss of hers.

Boyfriend From Hell was a fun romp in an urban fantasy world. I never quite got a handle on the Zone, its purpose and definition kind of blurry, even for Tina, who is just beginning to realize there is more than meets the eye. I imagine it will become clearer as the series progresses. There was quite a bit going on in the novel, but somehow I managed to keep everyone and everything straight.

I came to really like Tina; although I kind of wish her "rewards" would have taken on a different slant. Instead of great hair and perfect legs . . . I liked the idea of a physically flawed heroine. But it is a fantasy world, after all.

The novel was a good start to a new series, and a great escape. I read the second book in the series pretty close on the heels of the first book. Damn Him to Hell was even better than the first book--and it was good to see so many familiar names and faces.

In the second book, Tina has graduated from law school and is ready to begin practicing law. She has an internship with a Baltimore attorney, one she's bringing coffee more than she's actually putting her legal skills to use. An explosion at the local chemical plant in the Zone leaves behind quite a few comatose patients, many of whom are being picked up by people in white vans hoping to cover their tracks. Tina and friends act quickly to try to save some of the victims on their own, unsure about what is happening. She is determined to find out though, even if it means putting herself in mortal danger as a result.

The Zone becomes a little less hazy in this second book, although it is still an enigma. Is it somehow a safe haven of sorts for the city's supernatural? Is it really a toxic dump? What exactly is happening in the Zone? I have more questions than answers after reading this book, but I am definitely intrigued!

I find this series quirky and fun. I like that Tina isn't afraid to ask for help when she needs it nor is she afraid to take a risk. She stops and thinks before she acts, and even though sometimes she still goes with her first impulse, I generally agree with the outcome.

Both of these books are full of action, making for fast paced reading. There's a hint of romance, but it's really more tease than anything hot and heavy. Although both books could probably stand along just fine on their own, I would recommend reading them in order just so you don't miss any of the back story.

Rating:

(Good +)

You can learn more about Jamie Quaid, aka Patricia Rice, and her books on the author's website.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Where is Your Book Mark? (06/25/2013)

When I was first introduced to my husband's grandmother twenty-something years ago, I liked her instantly. She was funny and smart, kind and spunky. She was who I wanted to be at her age. Over the years, I grew to love her as if she were my own grandmother. And so it was with great sadness that we learned of her passing a couple of weeks ago. She was an amazing woman, one who led a full and good life. I feel lucky to have gotten the chance to call her family.

In addition to that, work has been extra busy. It's been a mix of bad and good. I won't bore you with the details other than to say skipped lunches and working later than usual have a way of wearing on a person.

Saturday was the beginning of the new soccer season. We followed it up with a visit to the library, which is adjacent to the park. Mouse was especially taken with the book Goldilocks and the Three Bears. She had me read it to her three times, along with a few other books. There were tears when it came time to leave. Mouse wanted to stay and read some more. I cannot blame her. I do not like leaving the library either.

I have not had much time to spare online, hence my absence from commenting and blogging last week. I hope this week will be better.

With the start up of the new season of HBO's True Blood (why do I watch it again?), I have been feeling in the mood to finish the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. I am not too far behind, just two books to go. Maybe just one by the time this posts. I keep begging my coworker to tell me what happens in the last book; so far she refuses to tell me. The truth is, I would rather find out on my own anyway. It's fun to tease though.

What are you reading right now?

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where

participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a

book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

I cannot believe I am almost done with this series. I began reading Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire series (Sookie Stackhouse) books years ago and have come to really love her characters. These books are my go to books for comfort and reading the opening of Deadlocked was just like visiting old friends:

It was hot as the six shades of Hell even this late in the evening, and I'd had a busy day at work. The last thing I wanted to do was to st in a crowded bar to watch my cousin get naked. But it was Ladies Only night at Hooligans, we'd planned this excursion for days, and the bar was full of hooting and hollering women determined to have a good time.

Would you keep reading?

Monday, June 24, 2013

Bookish (and Movie) Thoughts: World War Z by Max Brooks

World War Z by Max Brooks
Crown Publishing, 2006
Fiction (Horror); 352 pgs
Movie: World War Z directed by Marc Forster, 2013

If you missed my attempt at fiction writing and my mid-way check in for the World War Z read-along hosted by Natalie of Coffee and a Book Chick, you can catch up here.

A friend noticed I was reading World War Z by Max Brooks and asked me about it. She doesn't like to read about zombies and so was upfront about the fact that she would not likely read this particular book. The sad thing is I think this book would be perfect for her--if she could see past the zombies. Except for them, it has everything she loves in a novel. The novel is entertainment and also a social commentary on today's society, both from an international and national standpoint. On the surface the book is about an incurable virus that spreads from one reanimated corpse to living humans and how humankind deals and copes with the the devastation that follows. However, the book also delves into issues of corruption and sensationalism, government incompetence and mismanagement, isolation, and the lack of preparation for disasters, both on global, local and individual levels. You can insert any apocalyptic type disaster, and I imagine the story would be similar in terms of response and in survival. Zombies work best, I think, because they are a representation of our fears and possibly our mortality.

The book is written as if it is a recording of individual accounts during the war, put together by a United Nations agent who traveled the world to conduct the interviews. It is the perfect way to present the story--opening it up for different perspectives as well as getting a more well rounded idea of what the world would have been like had there really been a World War Z. It gave the novel a documentary feel to it, providing both technical and personal aspects to the story.

The details and technical aspects ground the novel in reality making it more believable even in spite of the zombies, but it is the personal stories that give the novel heart. From the smuggler to the soldiers to the civilians to the government worker to the dogs who helped in the effort to win the war. I was especially drawn to the more personal stories, of the struggles the interviewees had. There was so much frustration, anger, grief, desperation and terror in their words. Their resilience and perseverance is a testament to the human will to survive. It was a humbling experience for many, and a growth experience for all. And one that left me in awe of Max Brooks.

As I read the book, I tried to figure out where the movie might fit in. From the movie trailer, I knew the movie could not possibly encompass all that the novel is. And it didn't. The movie was but one tiny slice of the book, a very loose interpretation at that. Much is different between the two. While the book covers the war in its entirety, the movie only touches on a small part of it, following just one character and his family (not even characters in the book). The methods used to fight off the zombies varies from format to format, which, I suppose makes sense. The book is much harsher in terms of its approach--bringing in moral and ethical dilemmas that really make one question and think. The movie is less controversial in that sense, I thought--safer and likely more appealing to a wider audience.

In the movie, former United Nations agent Gerry Lane (played by Brad Pitt) is tasked with tracking down the source of the zombie pandemic and finding a way to stop it. The film is fast paced, intense and well plotted. It was very entertaining, and although it strayed from the book considerably and at times was predictable, I didn't mind at all. It was hard not to laugh at the teeth chattering, but other than that, the zombies were pretty scary. There were several white knuckle moments throughout the movie, including the scenes in Jerusalem and the Cardiff lab. The movie is pure action packed fun.

Both the book and movie proved to be a great way to start the summer season, each for very different reasons.

Many thanks to Natalie of Coffee and a Book Chick for letting me read World War Z alongside her!

Rating:

(Very Good)

You can learn more about Max Brooks and his books on the author's website.

Source: I purchased a copy of the book for my own reading pleasure. Ticket to see the movie was also purchased by myself.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Cat Thursday: Bath Time (Part 2)

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Bookish Thoughts: And When She Was Good by Laura Lippman

And When She Was Good by Laura Lippman

William Morrow, 2012

Crime Fiction; 320 pgs

Heloise isn't your typical suburban mother. Her life has never been easy. Raised by an abusive father and a mother who chose her father over her time and time again, she ran away for love, hoping to escape, only to find herself in one bad situation after another. Her name was Helen then. When she became pregnant, she took it upon herself to pull herself out of a very bad situation. She renamed herself Heloise and started over.

Heloise is very careful about keeping her personal life separate from her business life. As a madam, she has to. When news of the death of another madam working and living in a neighboring county makes the news, Heloise takes note, but isn't overly worried. Then news about her son's father possibly getting out of prison, reaches her--a dangerous prospect, especially since he doesn't know about their son. As events unfold and Heloise discovers a connection between her and the dead madam, however, she finds she must re-evaluate her business--and her life. The safety of her son and of herself is in jeopardy.

Laura Lippman is an extremely talented writer. And When She Was Good is a riveting story of one woman's struggle to overcome adversity and a past that won't let go. I am not sure I ever really liked Heloise, at least not in the way I would come to like a friend. I came to respect her though, even if I didn't always agree with the choices she'd made. She isn't the warmest of persons. Heloise is calculating and careful in all she does. She does not allow herself to get close to anyone. My heart ached for the younger version of Heloise, and for the life she suffered. She was forced to make difficult choices, victimized by those who take advantage of girls who see no other way out of their situations. As the story progressed, it was easy to see how Helen evolved into Heloise.

And When She Was Good is less a plot driven thriller and more of a character driven one. The more we learn about Helen of the past, the more we learn about Heloise in the present. Both stories are told in alternating chapters, coming together seamlessly. This isn't a fast-paced book. The author takes her time introducing Heloise and letting the reader into her life. I didn't mind. I was drawn into Heloise's world through Laura Lippman's words.

Rating:

(Very Good)

To learn more about Laura Lippman and her books, please visit the author's website. You can also learn more about the author by visiting her Facebook page.

I hope you will check out what others had to say about And When She was Good on the TLC Book Tours route!

Many thanks to the TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour. I read an e-copy version of this book which I purchased for my own reading pleasure.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

The Beginning . . . World War Z Read-Along

[Excerpt from the journal of Wendy Runyon]

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

It was a day like any other. I woke up, prepared for work, got in my car and began my commute to the office. Traffic was heavier than usual. I figured everyone was starting his or her vacation now that school was out, so I didn't make much of it.

Until I came across the body on the side of the road. Other drivers continued driving, unseeing. Or if they did see the body, they decided to ignore it. Some even seemed to speed up as they drove by it. Typical, I thought. How many times have we heard about a woman being attacked and none of the witnesses stepping in to help her. Maybe they figured someone else would. Maybe they really were oblivious. Or maybe they had seen too many movies or television shows where the con-artist lies in wait, pretending to be helpless only to spring and attack once the prey got close enough. All of this crossed my mind as I pulled over to the side of the road and then dialed emergency services. The line was busy.

I debated for a minute whether to get out of my car. What if it was a trap? I told myself I could not think like that. This person could be in serious trouble. It appeared to be a woman. I could tell she was still alive the closer I got. She was struggling to get up. Her clothes were torn, she was covered in scrapes and what appeared to be open wounds. I saw no blood though. Her skin appeared kind of grayish.

I did not have time to register what I was seeing before a movement in the field next to the road caught my eye. A soldier, apparently lying in wait, rose from his hiding place in the dry yellow grass, rifle pointed at the woman. She was now standing upright . . . something was seriously wrong with her.

I heard a loud pop and then the woman fell over. The soldier had shot her! I stood frozen in my spot, wanting to turn and run but unable to move my feet. The next thing I knew, the soldier grabbed a machete he had been carrying and chopped off the woman's head. "Just in case," he said, mostly to himself. He turned to me and nodded before returning to the field and disappearing.

I took that as my cue and ran back to my car. I did not go to work that day. I went straight home, woke up my husband and daughter. We had much to do and not a lot of time to do it in. It was here. World War Z come to life.

Today is the midpoint day for the World War Z Read-Along hosted by Natalie of Coffee and a Book Chick. And what a ride it's been so far! The format of the novel gives it a documentary feel--the author is interviewing various people, collecting their first person accounts of what they witnessed and experienced.

Readers learn about the attempted government cover up and rapid fire spread of the walking dead. As people fled to safety, the zombies multiplied, entering unaffected territories, coming in as unsuspecting refugees. Governments and military did what they could. Dogs sniffed out infected people, whose fate was certain death. Families were torn apart. Panic ensued. Governments really had no idea what they were doing. There was too much attention given to suppressing the news rather than solving the problem, initially, and early attempts to eradicate the zombies proved more deadly to humans. When finally a possible solution came, it was met with resistance by many. Morally and ethically it was wrong, but desperation and survival of the species left little choice.

Mixed in with the politics and technical aspects of the war against the walking dead are the human interest stories, which are what really make this book what it is. Given it's supposed to be the more human side of the affair, that makes sense. Readers are given a very vivid and clear picture of not only what life would be like if zombies attacked, but also how the world would react. It's not a pretty picture.

What I love about this book is the attention to detail and how well researched it is. It's an intelligent novel. One that I think would lend itself well to discussion about our culture and society today.

Time to get back to the book!

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Where is Your Bookmark? (06/11/2013)

Someone in one of my reading groups asked members to describe their ideal reading setting in such a way as to make us all feel like we were right there with the person, enjoying the moment too. I placed myself at a mountain cabin on a summer morning, wrapped in my afghan with a book and a mug of hot chocolate, gently swinging on the porch swing. There is a chill in the air, and it is raining, a morning rain that will soon let up and make way for a beautiful sunny day. Just a little ways in the distance I can see the lake. If you listen closely, you can hear a small animal scurrying up in the trees. Birds twitter. Leaves rustle. My husband and daughter are still asleep and will not be up for another hour or so. Tell me about your ideal reading place.

My family celebrated my husband's birthday this past weekend. Anjin and I enjoyed a date day on his actual birthday, seeing the new Star Trek movie after eating breakfast out. We had cake later in the evening with Mouse who still prefers to eat with her fingers even with a fork in hand.

The local library branch was open on Saturday, much to my glee (it's always been closed on Saturdays before). After soccer and park time, we stopped in and Mouse and I settled onto a little person's couch to read. Mouse brought over several books for us to read together and we stayed like that for who knows how long. This may become our weekend routine, some quiet time after soccer or water play at the park. I love the idea!

At the moment I am reading and enjoying two books. I just started reading The Execution of Noa P. Singleton by Elizabeth L. Silver for an upcoming book tour. The book has been compared to Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, which I recently (and finally!) read. I'm not far enough in to say whether it is true or not, but just from the description of the book, I can see why some might think so. I am also making my way through World War Z by Max Brooks. It's my lunch time reading book, and so my progress with it is slower than it might be otherwise. I am really liking it though. Yes, even though it's about zombies.

What are you reading right now?

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where

participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a

book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

I have only just begun reading Elizabeth L. Silver's The Execution of Noa P. Singleton, and I can already tell I am going to like this book.

In this world, you are either good or evil. If not, then a court or a teacher or a parent is bound to tag your identity before you've had a chance to figure it out on your own. The gray middle ground, that mucous thin terrain where most of life resides, is really only a temporary annex, like gestation or purgatory. It shadows over everyone in its vacuous and insipid cape, flying across the sky, making smoke letters out of fears. You always know it's up there, but you never quite know how to get rid of it. It waits for you, patiently, until the day it wraps you in its cyclone and you can no longer vacillate between black and white, artist or scientist, teacher or student. It is this point at which you must choose one way of life or the other. Victor or victim. And when you do, the fear drips away as seamlessly as a river drains into an ocean. For me, it happened on January 1, 2003.

Would you keep reading?

Monday, June 10, 2013

Bookish Thoughts: A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea by Dina Nayeri

A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea by Dina Nayeri

Riverhead 2013

Fiction; 432 pgs

From the Publisher:

A magical novel about a young Iranian woman lifted from grief by her powerful imagination and love of Western culture.

Growing up in a small rice-farming village in 1980s Iran, eleven-year-old Saba Hafezi and her twin sister, Mahtab, are captivated by America. They keep lists of English words and collect illegal Life magazines, television shows, and rock music. So when her mother and sister disappear, leaving Saba and her father alone in Iran, Saba is certain that they have moved to America without her. But her parents have taught her that “all fate is written in the blood,” and that twins will live the same life, even if separated by land and sea. As she grows up in the warmth and community of her local village, falls in and out of love, and struggles with the limited possibilities in post-revolutionary Iran, Saba envisions that there is another way for her story to unfold. Somewhere, it must be that her sister is living the Western version of this life. And where Saba’s world has all the grit and brutality of real life under the new Islamic regime, her sister’s experience gives her a freedom and control that Saba can only dream of.

Filled with a colorful cast of characters and presented in a bewitching voice that mingles the rhythms of Eastern storytelling with modern Western prose, A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea is a tale about memory and the importance of controlling one’s own fate.

I almost immediately fell under Dina Nayeri's spell as I began reading A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea. Saba's story is such a sad story, but she never lost hope. The story begins in the early 1980's and carries the reader into the 1990's.

Saba is an interesting character. She is naive in many ways, oblivious even. She lives in her own little world. As a child, she created stories as a way to cope with the absence of her sister from her life, imagining her living a parallel life to hers in the United States. Saba and her sister, Mahtab, were born to Christian parents in a country where those practicing Christianity are persecuted. It hadn't always been that way. Once the family had lived openly. But then the revolution came and almost over night (as Saba tells it), their lives changed. Saba's mother was an activitist and shared many of her views with her daughters. When Saba's sister and mother disappeared from her life, she had only her memories of them and the stories she created about them.

Saba's stories about her sister in the U.S. are comical to some extent--frivilous, really. And yet, I can't help but think there is truth to Saba's distorted image of America, a picture she gets from reading bootlegged books and magazines and hears about in outlawed music.

After my initial infacutation with the book, my interest in it began to wane a bit. As much as the young Saba touched my heart, I found her denial and stories too similar after awhile. It wasn't until Saba was married off that I became engrossed in the story again. I found myself relating to and liking the grown up Saba much more than I did Saba as a child.

The story of what really happened to Mahtab does not come out immediately, although it does come out eventually. It isn't a surprise, really. Hints are given right from the start and so I don't think it's much of a spoiler to say that it is heartbreaking. Dina Nayeri does an amazing job of conveying the grief process Saba goes through of being left without a sister and mother--showing that the process of grief takes time. The loss of her mother and sister was something that affects Saba her entire life. My heart ached for her over and over.

While Saba is the main focus of the novel, her friends and family play an important role in the book as well. Saba is fortunate that her family has money and connections. Her two closest friends, Ponneh and Reza, are not of the same status as she is and their lives reflect that in many ways. Still, the three have a strong bond between them. They are each others strength as well as confidants.

The author describes life in Iran through her characters and their experiences, providing a glimpse at the culture(s) and lifestyles of the people. She paints a picture that is both vividly beautiful as well as one that is terribly dark.

When all was said and done, as I came away from the book with a feeling of contentment. Amidst the sadness, there was much hope. Saba's story, and that of her friends, is a meaningful story. It is a story of friendship and love. Of strength and strife. Of despair and of hope.

Rating:

(Good +)

You can learn more about Dina Nayeri and her books on the author's website.

Source: Copy of book provided by publisher via NetGalley.

Thursday, June 06, 2013

Cat Thursday: Bath Time (Part 1)

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

Bookish Thoughts: A Conspiracy of Alchemists by Liesel Schwarz

A Conspiracy of Alchemists: Book One in The Chronicles of Light and Shadow by Liesel Schwarz

Del Ray, 2013

Fantasy; 353 pgs

I wasn't sure what I was in for when I began reading A Conspiracy of Alchemists. I avoided reading any of the reviews about it, but the description made it sound promising. Plus, I really like the cover. I read this book when I most needed something light and easy, and it proved to be a good fit.

I haven't read too much in the way of steampunk, and loved the descriptions of the devices and forms of transportation described . It was interesting and the author did a good job of setting the stage for her novel. I loved the idea of Elle, a female pilot trying to make her way among a mostly male dominated field. Elle had been raised by her father, having lost her mother when she was young. Her mother's death and reputation was mired in rumors of the occult.

Elle isn't one to believe much in magic. She's very practical minded. And although she sometimes finds herself walking between the Light (more scientific realm) and the Shadow (more magical realm), she'd like to think her feet are firmly planted in the Light. When she takes on a job for one of her regular customers, the Frenchman Patrice, she soon finds herself questioning the reality she knows, both in the present and in the past. What should have been a simple cargo flight from Paris to London, turns into a fight for her life as she flees an unknown enemy. When her father is kidnapped, Elle will do anything to find him. Even if that means putting her trust in Mr. Marsh, a shady character with high connections.

What unfolds is a story of magic and mayhem where alchemists seek their freedom from the vampires, and the warlocks try to hold onto that last sliver of magic they can find. Author Liesel Schwarz brought the landscape her novel is set in to life from the descriptions of England and France and Italy and Constantinople. The action is almost nonstop from beginning to end and plenty of secrets to be uncovered. There is also romance, albeit a bit cliche.

When behind the wheel of an aircraft, Elle was quite the formidable foe. I loved the scene where she was up against the air pirates. She could be quite stubborn in an annoying sort of way, especially when it came to Mr. Marsh. I liked her overall, however. She had heart.

I enjoyed getting to know Elle and the world she lives in, as well as many of the other characters, including meeting Baroness Beladodia on the Orient Express, the absinthe fairy that stowed away in Elle's bracelet, and Inut, the half-faun who was eager to be of help.

I really like the idea of a steampunk novel about a female pilot, and admit to being a tad disappointed when it became clear the author was going in an entirely different direction with the character. Even so, I let go of my expectation and let Schwarz take me where she would. In the end, I enjoyed the ride quite a bit. I definitely will be seeking out future books in the series.

Rating:

(Good +)

You can learn more about Liesel Schwarz and her book on the author's website.

Source: I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Where is Your Bookmark? (06/04/2013)/World War Z Read-Along

While my boss is sitting by the ocean, watching his children frolic in the waves of Kauai (a much deserved vacation, I might add), I am working hard in the office, managing both his duties and my own. I am not pulling my hair out, which is a good thing by all accounts. During my lunch hour, I have taken to reading World War Z by Max Brooks. I have had this particular book on my shelf for I can't tell you how long. Too long, for sure. I bought it at Borders, finding it on the discount table one year. I can't believe I remember that. Anyway, a friend mentioned it was the book she favored most so far this year, so I figured it was worth diving into.

On the home front, I began reading Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl. I am likely one of the last people to finally get to it. It's been my bedtime reading book mostly. I didn't get much chance to read this past weekend as we were on the go much of it, but I hope to finish the book before the week is out. I nearly brought it to work with me today to read during my lunch hour, but decided that wouldn't be fair to ol' Z, a book I am enjoying very much too.

What are you reading today?

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where

participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a

book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

I have heard only great things about World War Z by Max Brooks. Although not a huge fan of zombies, I do like the show "The Walking Dead" (I have only seen the first season), and the book reminds me a lot of that.

It goes by many names: "The Crisis," "The Dark Years," "The Walking Plague," as well as the newer more "hip" titles such as "World War Z" or "Z War One." I personally dislike this last moniker as it implies an inevitable "Z War Two." For me, it will always be "The Zombie War," and while many may protest the scientific accuracy of the word zombie, they will be hard-pressed to discover a more globally accepted term for the creatures that almost caused our extinction. Zombie remains a devastating word, unrivaled in its power to conjure up so many memories or emotions, and it is these memories, and emotions, that are the subject of this book.

Would you continue reading?

Update!

Thanks to Ti from Book Chatter (especially since I'm behind in visiting blogs), I just learned about Natalie's World War Z read-along! Since I'm reading it anyway, I might as well join in, right? You can too, if you like! Just drop by her blog, Coffee and a Book Chick to sign up.

The Details ~

Published 2006
Author Max Brooks
342 pages
Readalong runs from June 5 to June 19
Readalong hosted here at Coffee and a Book Chick
Movie premiere is June 21
Publish a halfway post on June 12 (up through page 136, all chapters up to Turning the Tide)
Publish a finale post on June 19 (I may or may not be able to comply with this one--my review may come a bit later in the month, depending).

A Few Questions ~

Do you want to see the movie because of Brad Pitt? No. To be honest, I'm not a big fan of his.
Will you be watching the movie during the premiere weekend? No. Maybe the following weekend, but definitely not opening weekend.
What do you know about World War Z? The book comes highly recommended, and I admit the moving coming out this month helped push me into the "read now" camp. It's fun to read a book and follow it up with the movie! Plus, I'm really curious how the book will translate into film, especially given the format of the book. I imagine fast and loose will come into play.
What are you reading? Print, ebook, or audio? I am reading a print copy.

Monday, June 03, 2013

Finding Treasure

The boxes sat in my parents' garage for nearly two decades; the dust collecting; the items inside unchanged. My mom and I saved quite a few things from my childhood. Much of which was boxed up as I grew older and no longer needed it or when I moved away to college.

When my husband and I bought our first house, my dad decided it was time I take everything that had once been mine. That meant several boxes, many of which went from my parents' garage into my own, the boxes unopened. It wasn't until we moved them yet again, from the old house to the new, that my husband and I decided to go through them. It was time to decide what to keep.

If I believed in destiny, I would say it was fate that kept us from going through the boxes sooner. We likely would have thrown out a lot of my old toys, dolls and stuffed animals, paper dolls, and games. That would have been before Mouse. Now, we hold onto the items in case she shows an interest in them. Maybe one day she will. If not, we can decide what to keep and throw away then.

A couple of my boxes in my parents' garage escaped notice for years. My mother found them earlier this year and brought them with her on her last visit. Old sweatshirts and t-shirts from high school, quite a few Camp Fire camp and choir t-shirts. A couple of photos from my show choir days. A prayer plate that used to hang on the wall of my room. An old picket sign I used when helping my mom during a teacher's strike. My Cabbage Patch dolls and three only-for-looking-at-dolls. A model airplane (an F-16) I'd put together when I was a child, a truck made out of redwood, a Rubik's cube. Doll clothes and clothes I'd once worn. My first bra. And books. Books I'd read in middle school and into high school. Some of the books I remembered. Many I did not.

Among my finds in that box, was a framed poem, "If" for Girls by J.P. McEnvoy (inspired by Rudyard Kipling), that I had hung on the wall of my room when I was growing up. As I held it in my hands, with its yellowing paper and faded green border, I read the poem and remembered. It had given me strength when I was young. I turned the frame over and noticed the inscription on the back. There were two. I read the bottom one first. The poem had been given to me when when I was ten years old by my grandmother. My eyes went to the inscription on top. The same poem, in that same frame, had been given to my grandmother when she was 19 years old, in 1939. Tears filled my eyes. And I hugged that poem to my heart. One day there will be a third inscription on that old frame when I give it to my daughter.