Wordless Wednesday

A boat cruise on the Potomac.

Review: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Goodreads: Barcelona, 1945 - Just after the war, a great world city lies in shadow, nursing its wounds, and a boy named Daniel awakes one day to find that he can no longer remember his mother's face. To console his only child, Daniel's widowed father, an antiquarian book dealer, initiates him into the secret of the Cemetary of Forgotten Books, a library tended by Barcelona's guild of rare-book dealers as a repository for books forgotten by the world, waiting for someone who will care about them again.

Daniel's father coaxes him to choose a book from the spiraling labyrinth of shelves, one that, it is said, will have a special meaning for him. And Daniel so loves the book he selects, a novel calld The Shadow of the Wind by one Julian Carax, that he sets out to find the rest of Carax's work. To his shock, he discovers that someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book this author has written. In fact, he may have the last of Carax's books in existence.

Before Daniel knows it, his seemingly innocent quest has opened a door into one of Barcelonas darkest secrets, an epic story of murder, magic, madness and doomed love, and before long he realizes that if he doesn't find out the truth about Julian Carax, he and those closest to him will suffer horribly.

Kritters Thoughts: A story about books and the pursuit of the real life drama behind the author. A joy is shared for the love of reading and how books can change one's life - a lesson that I loved hearing again. Divided into sections, it made this chunkster easy to tackle. My favorite section was towards the end which was a diary of sorts written to Daniel to help him understand the life and times of the author he was investigating - Julian Carax. Throughout the books there were holes and they were mostly filled in by this section.

A large cast of characters that took awhile to nail down made for some difficulties. I took to post its to help keep everyone and their relationships straight. At times, it was truly hard to remember how they were all related. I am sure that no one could have been cut to make it easier, but I definitely needed some help.

I definitely enjoyed this read. It was out of my usual genre - leant to me by a coworker, I was glad to take a break from my usual and read this one.

Rating:definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Pages: 487

It's Monday, What are you Reading? (28)

Happy 4th of July! Headed to the Capitol Concert with the boy, will definitely share pictures - it should be a good time with Josh Groban, Jordin Sparks and Glee's Matthew Morrison. And I LOVE fireworks - kind of excited!

I have had a weekend packed of reading by the pool, but this is currently what I am reading.

A meme hosted by The Book Journey.

Currently reading:

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin

The Social Climber's Handbook by Molly Jong-Fast

Next off the TBR pile:

Unleashed by Emily Kimelman

In My Mailbox (37)

A very slow week in the mailbox, until I came home on Friday and received three books that I had won! I definitely need to get by the pool and read this holiday weekend I have accumulated quite a pile recently!

Paperbackswap:

A Lost Wife's Tale by Marion McGilvary

Winnings:
Summer in the South by Cathy Holton

The Summer of Us by Holly Chamberlin

Summer Friends by Holly Chamberiln

The Ramble - Amy E. Goodman at One More Page

A great evening at One More Page with chocolate, wine tasting and lots of talk about fashion. A book that I received for review and posted a review here on April 22nd. Wear This, Toss That!

A colorful evaluation of what women should keep as staples in their wardrobe and what to add for sparkle to an outfit. There are also tips about what to send to charity for others to take advantage of. I am still working on this process!

Amy E. Goodman was a joy to listen to. Her stories of her background and linking them through how a first impression can mean a lot as to how people remember you for the rest of your life. She talks with passion which was inspiring. I work in a dressed down environment and walking the line between comfort and style is a daily fight in my closet!

At the end of the night, she signed books and spoke individually with every person. As always One More Page is a great host for readers and book fans.

June in review

My last month living on my own and a month full of celebration and good times. I am absolutely surprised at the amount of reading I was able to accomplish!

1. The Great Santini by Pat Conroy
2. The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman
3. Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell
4. Skipping a Beat by Sarah Pekkanen
5. Easter's Lilly by Judy Serrano
6. The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green
7. Ghellow Road by TH Waters
8. Life's a Beach by Claire Cook

9. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

10. Declaring Spinsterhood by Jamie Lynn Braziel
11. Megan's Way by Melissa Foster
12. The Wedding Writer by Susan Schneider
13. Dreams Unleashed by Linda Hawley

14. In the Belly of Jonah by Sandra Brannan

Total Pages Read: 4,611

Where are you reading?
Reseda, CA
Minneapolis, MN
Ravenel, SC
Orlon, FL
New York City, NY (2)
Sedona, AZ
Washington, D.C.
Barcelona

Bellingham, WA

Cape Cod, MA

Fort Collins, CO

Marshbury, MA

Dallas, TX

What did your June look like?

Giveaway: The Wedding Writer by Susan Schneider

This Giveaway is closed.

It's your lucky day - I have just been advised that one lucky follower could win a copy of The Wedding Writer by Susan Schneider. Just fill out the form below for your entry.

Contest to end July 11th.

The Ramble: Library Sale

Hello readers, I have fun news to share. A week ago (Friday, June 24th) mom and I had the great opportunity to stop by the local library sale - their 22nd annual. We had no idea what we were walking into, but boy were we surprised and the happiest of campers.

Here is a vlog with pictures below to share the load I came home with:

The Lucky Ones by Rachel Cusk
Emotionally Weird by Kate Atkinson
The Wonder Spot by Melissa Bank
Hello Goodbye by Emily Chenoweth
Another Thing to Fall by Laura Lippman
The Luxe by Anna Godbersen
Envy by Anna Godbersen
Rumors by Anna Godbersen
Splendor by Anna Godbersen
Lust, Loating and a Little Lip Gloss by Kyra Davis
Prayers and Lies by Sherri Wood Emmons
The Doctor's Wife by Elizabeth Brundage
One True Theory of Love by Laura Fitzgerald
Airhead by Meg Cabot
The Condition by Jennifer Haigh
Devil's Corner by Lisa Scottoline
In a Heartbeat by Rosalind Noonan
The New Yorkers by Cathleen Schine
Beyond Summer by Lisa Wingate
Defiance by Carole Maso


I spent 42 bucks, but the sticker price would have totaled over $390!

Guest Post - Susan Schneider autho of The Wedding Writer

I would like to welcome Susan Schneider to Kritters Ramblings. We are lucky to have a exclusive guest post just for us, so here it goes . . .

Ambitious Women, Yay or Nay?

The main character in The Wedding Writer, Lucky burns bright with pure ambition. At first it seemed that this would be a problem with selling the book. My agent loved the writing, but she didn't love Lucky. "Gee, can't you make her just a little nicer?" she asked plaintively. So I did - but not enough for my editor at St Martins. "Nope," she said. "Lucky isn't sympathetic enough." I saw their point - Lucky is a tough cookie - but then I was in a dilemma. How could I make her more likable but keep true to the kind of character I knew she had to be?

I decided that I could deepen Lucky so that the reader could understand her if not want to invite her to brunch. I wanted readers to see where Lucky was coming from, how she got to be the person she was, and so I worked really hard on a section about her visit to her family in Christmas. I wanted the reader to think "Ah ha, now I get it!" Overall , I'm glad I rethought Lucky, because I myself ended up liking her (and understanding her) a lot more.

I admit she isn't the easiest character in the world to warm up to; however, after working for many years in women's magazines, of which bridal is a very big part, I know that you have to be tough, especially if you come to the industry without connections. Then you have to fight even harder, and you have to steel yourself to take disappointment on the chin. And this s truer more now that ever, when jobs are scarce and getting scarcer.

Having said this, I still think that people often have a problem with ambitious women - even in these post-feminist days. As a single mom, I've been plenty torn about it: how much did I give to my job and how much to my daughter? And hey, how about me?

I've been Lucky myself and I've been the opposite of Lucky. But I admire my girl's ambitions, if not all her methods. I see where she's coming from. Sometimes my heart really goes out to her - I hope that when she finally reaches the top, it won't be too lonely. More than that, I hope she has a second chapter filled with love.

Check out my review yesterday of The Wedding Writer here on the blog.

Review: The Wedding Writer by Susan Schneider

Goodreads: Four talented women, one glossy wedding magazine: life should be as perfect as a bridal catwalk . . . right?

Lucky Quinn writes up weddings for one of the hottest bridal magazines. And it wasn't easy to get there. From humble beginnings, she outsmarted her way into the center of New York's glamorous magazine industry - making up for her background with a sharp mind, whip-thin physique, and ceaseless ambition.

Then, in one day, her life is utterly transformed; two of the magazine's major competitors fold, and Lucky is named Editor-in-Chief, replacing the formidable, but aging Grace Ralston, who had been at the magazine's helm from day one. Grace taught Lucky everything she knows, but now it seems that she taught her to well . . .


Kritters Thoughts: A great girlie chick lit to get an insider's look into the magazine world and more specifically the bridal magazine world. I absolutely adored that at the center of this book were women who held powerful positions and took the reigns on the professional lives. Ironic, that only one of the main characters was in a successful marriage with child.

Being a woman who always wanted to be in the working world and never seeing myself as the stay at home mom - nothing wrong with that role, my mom was an excellent CEO of the household - I just don't see myself as handling that kind of a job! I loved reading a book where women are in a professional situation and are succeeding. The interactions between women in the workforce is unique, as we are a more feeling gender, in the most part, I think it is extra hard for us to check our feelings at the door of our offices. I am guilty, but I think with each year I am in the workforce I realize that a job is a job and friends are friends.

Spoken from different perspectives, it was easy to realize which character was speaking. I think they each had a unique voice that made for a full story to be told. From beginning to end, I was rooting for each woman to find success in her own way - may it be out of the office, in a relationship or on the homefront. I honestly would love to see a sequel and see where the women end up and how through their relationships they affect one another beyond the workplace.

A great piece of women's fiction that is perfect for a weekend read. Light, but full of heart I would recommend it to any age group.
Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Pages: 320

Review: Dreams Unleashed by Linda Hawley

Goodreads: It's the future year of 2015, where technology governs life. No one on the globe is free from being tracked through government RFID. The worldwide underground organization, GOG, is the one group equipped to fight against citizens' loss of privacy. Ann Torgeson is a technical writer working for a tidal energy company - living a seemingly normal life in the Pacific Northwest - when her vivid dreams turn real. Is her training as a paranormal CIA agent when she was nineteen years old now altering the doorway between her subconscious and reality? When Ann starts to dig into her past, her present begins to unravel, leading the reader through events that twist and turn everything upside down.

Kritters Thoughts: Read in one day between two sittings, this book was filled with ups and downs. There were things that I absolutely loved about this book that kept me flipping pages or pushing the next button on the Nookster. And then there were two things that I wasn't absolutely gung ho about.

Start with the things I would have changed to end with what I loved. There were parts of this book that made mention of the current political environment, including Obama, our financial crisis and the going ons in the world. Maybe I am naive, but being in the year 2015, I wish that this part was either left out or made more fictional instead of so realistic and truthful. The other part that maybe I wouldn't change is the ending. (I am not a spoiler) But we are left with a major cliffhanger and by gosh, I would have rather a little more closure before heading into book 2 in the series.

Now onto the good stuff. I loved the dystopianish part of being a future world where the government is taking more and more control. It is sad, but being tracked through my drivers' license doesn't scare me, so they know that I am headed to the grocery store. I guess I don't mind because I don't find myself getting into trouble and so what if the gov't knows that I am headed into work or to a dog park. But with my mind set I still loved the book and the issues it brings up with how much control should a gov't have in our citizens' lives.

A read for the women and men folk. I think if you are politically minded you may enjoy it a little more - being in DC, I find myself a little more interested in the going ons of our nation's capital. I had a hard time picking a shoe category for this one - so I went with the heels.

Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Pages: 264

Cover Challenge April-June: Plain Jane

It's Monday, What are you Reading? (27)

Another Monday is about to begin. It should be an eventful week since I was out a lot last week with the graduation and family in town. We shall see how the reading goes now that he is at home and the tv is back on!

A meme hosted by Book Journey.

Currently Reading:

The Wedding Writer by Susan Schneider

In the Belly of Jonah by Sandra Brannon

Next off the TBR pile:

Dreams Unleashed by Linda Hawley

In My Mailbox (36)

No vlog this week, after a long week of hosting family and the computer in the shop. I have a short list this week with a vlog to come on Wednesday with the load that I brought home from the Library Sale.

A meme hosted by The Story Siren.

Paperbackswap or Bookmooch:

The Secret Lives of Dresses by Erin McKean

A Goodwill trip:

Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst

The Secret Lives of Fortunate Wives by Sarah Strohmeyer

Interview: Melissa Foster author of Megan's Way

Melissa Foster - author of both Megan's Way and Chasing Amanda and founder of the Women's Nest. A current resident of Maryland, with another book - Come Back To Me almost complete (synopsis after the interview).

I was given the great opportunity to send some questions her way and she so kindly responded with answers within an hour! Here it goes . . .

1. What do you find yourself rambling about?

It depends on who you ask. If you ask my kids, I ramble about things we want/need to do as a family. If you ask my husband, I ramble about my characters and plots, and if you ask my friends, I ramble about everything from The Women's Nest and my books to my kids and my cat.

2. When looking at your female leads, do you put a piece of your own personality into the characters?

I don't try to, but people who know me say that I do, so I'd have to say sometimes, yes. I have really worked on getting out of that habit for my third novel, Come Back to Me. I think you'll find the female lead quite different than both Megan, of Megan's Way, and Molly, of Chasing Amanda.

3. As a current resident of the DMV (DC, MD, VA area), what is one historical landmark that is on your must visit list?

We have so many great historical sights around our area, that you'd be missing out if you are unable to visit any of them, but one of my favorite spots is the Smithsonian, the building itself is magnificent, and the contents, of course, are interesting and exciting for all ages. If you are looking for an outside venue, then Swain's Lock is one of my favorite places to escape.

4. When did you realize you wanted to be an author? Have there been any speedbumps along the way?

Speedbumps . . . hmmm . . . I've never called the little people who run around my house that before, but yes, there have been. I have wanted to write since 1990 (at least) and was unable to focus my attention on it until all six of our kids were in school full-time. Time with the children moves so quickly -- although I recognize that while you're in the thick of raising toddler and small children, days can seem like months -- but I also know how quickly time passes. I wanted the time with them while they were at the age to want to share their time with me. I'm happy that I waited to write. I appreciate every second I spend in front of my keyboard and every moment with my chlidren.

5. What is next on your plate?

I'm almost finished with my third novel, Come Back to Me, an international love story/tragedy, and I've started my fourth, Shades of Gray, a YA/women's fiction crossover.

Sneak peek at Come Back to Me:

Tess Johnson has it all, Beau, her handsome photographer husband, a thriving business, and a newly discovered pregnancy. When Beau accepts an overseas photography assignment, Tess decideds to wait to reveal her secret - only she's never given the chance. Beau's helicopter crashes in the desert.

As Tess struggles to put her life back together and deal with the pregnancy she can no longer hid, a new client appears, offering more than just a new project.

Meanwhile, two Iraqi women who are fleeing Honor Killings find Beau alive in the middle of the desert, his body ravaged. Suha, a doctor, and Samira, a widow and mother of three young children, nurse him back to health in a makeshift tent. Beau bonds with the women and children, and together, with the help of an underground organization, they continue their dangerous escape.

What happens next is a test of loyalites, strength, and love.

I am definitely putting this book on my wish list. Thank you Melissa for your answers - I definitely see that children are great speedbumps on the road we call life!

The Ramble - the boy graduates from Police Academy

A nonbookish ramble this week, but I had to share photos and my pure excitement to the boy who graduated on Wednesday from the Police Academy! It was a grueling 5 months spent apart after a 6 month application process. SO after a year of ups and downs - it is official - I live with the law!

We were blessed to have both his family and my family here to be a part of such a great day. The pomp and circumstance was fun to watch, but definitely made the ceremony quite lengthy.

Just a great day! Now to live with the shift, who knows when we will celebrate holidays from here on out!

Review: Megan's Way by Melissa Foster

Goodreads: What would you give up for the people you love?

When Megan Taylor, a single mother and artist, receives the shocking news that her cancer has returned, she'll be faced with the most difficult decision she's ever had to make. She'll endure an emotional journey, questioning her own moral and ethical values, and the decisions she'd made long ago. The love she has for her daughter, Olivia, and her closest friends, will be stretched and frayed.

Meanwhile, fourteen-year-old Olivia's world is falling apart right before her eyes, and there's nothing she can do about it. She finds herself acting in ways she cannot begin to understand. When her internal struggles turn to dangerous behavior, her life will hang in the balance.

Megan's closest friends are caught in a tangled web of deceit. Each must figure out how, and if, they can expose their secrets, or forever be haunted by their pasts.

Kritters Thoughts: A wonderful blend of paranormal effects melted into a women's fiction plot. As some followers may know - I am not big into the paranormal world, but this part of the plot was so beautifully woven into a bigger story that took your breath away from the very beginning. A woman's decision to let her cancer take hold early instead of fighting it until the bitter end was the heart of her struggle and the effects it would have on her "family."

Each character that made up her "family" unit was unique and genuine. I could picture some of my friends in their roles. Their close knit bonds are those that everyone craves and only a few have in their lives. The story twists and turns, but leaves you wondering. As I sit here, I am still unsure as to whether I wish that everything had been wrapped up nicely in the end - still on the fence. As I am not a spoiler, I will let readers answer this question after they go find this book and finish the last page.

A book for both genders, but beware I definitely shed some tears and may at not the most opportune times - in a restaurant waiting for my family or at work on my lunch break. This one was definitely a tear jerker, maybe a little too emotional that I need something light and very happy to follow!

Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Pages: 304

A review copy was provided for a honest opinion.

Interview with Jamie Lynn Braziel - Declaring Spinsterhood

After reading Declaring Spinsterhood, it was a great joy to send the author some questions - so away we go . . . .

1. What do you find yourself rambing about?

Anything and everything. Name a subject, and I'll talk about it. I love to talk to people about anything. It's a great way to gain insight about yourself and others.

2. Is there a piece of your personality in any of your characters?

There is definitely parts of my personality in my characters. I think authors can't help but write something of themselves into their stories. Sometimes it's subconscious, and others, it's absolutely intentional.

3. Declaring Spinsterhood was a great chick lit book. Have you written anything or wanted to write another genre?

Thanks! I've written many things, most of which are not published. I've explored many genres and would consider writing any of them except science fiction. It's just not usually my cup of tea.

4. When did you want to become an author? Have you experienced any speedbumps along the way?

I've pretty much been an author since before I could hold a writing utensil. I told my stories until then. The only speedbump I've ever hit was lack of time due to classes and homework, but that's over now.

5. What is next on your plate?

I just finished graduate school so I'm taking a little time for myself. Immediately after that, I'll be working on my second novel. I've already started some preliminary character sketches and plot outlines, so stay tuned.

Thank you so much for answering my questions, I will definitely be staying tuned for what is coming out next from you!

Review: Keep the Change by Steve Dublanica

Goodreads: In America, tipping is (usually) avoidable, but not thinking about voluntary gratuities is completely impossible. Every day, we are confronted with awkward decisions about who to tip, how much to pay for different services, and even how to share our loot. There is no doubt that we succomb: Each year, we Americans spend $66 billion on tips, but as Waiter Rant author and blog keeper Steve Dublanica knows from hard experience, tipping behavior ranges widely from patron to patron and from profession to profession. To test the waters, or more specifically the outstretched palms, Dublanica traveled the continent, inquiring about handout habits everywhere he went. The venues fit almost every description; from working class bars and family restaurants to barbershops, beauty salons, public bathrooms and strip clubs.

Kritters Thoughts: What an insightful book! From the author of Waiter Rant, which I will soon pick up - he dives into the details of tipping for every profession. A topic that affects every person in the USA - how much should I tip?

I thought going into reading this book that I knew a lot about who to tip and how much to tip - in some cases this book proved me right and in other cases I was so wrong. I loved how he designed the hotel chapter, to go through how each job should be tipped by means of the order that you meet them when you check into a hotel - doorman to maid and beyond. There were some jobs that I couldn't believe were tipped at all and then learning about those who rely 90% on tips, unbelievable. So I will be keeping this book on hand for future reference and to loan out to others.

A recommendation for male and female of all ages. Even an interesting read to give to a recent college grad who is entering the world of paying all bills on their own, even ones that include tips.

Rating:definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Pages: 320

Off the Shelf Challenge 2011: 12 of 50

Cover Challenge April-June: I Heart Shopping!

Review: Declaring Spinsterhood by Jamie Lynn Braziel

Goodreads: What can you do when your family harps on you to get married (already!), when your delicious and alluring ex-boyfriend - cheater to the core - believes that you've fallen for another guy and sets out to woo and conquer (again), and when you suddenly realize that you have fallen in love with your best friend, the guy whose shoulder has always been available . . . but is presently being enjoyed by another woman? Braziel explores the world of 30-something single women, the pressures they face to tie the knot, and what happens when that knot begins to feel more like a noose. In the world of Emma Bailey, nothing is sacred. Including, and most especially, marriage.


Kritters Thoughts: A great chick lit read to break my reading slump. I read this after a few downers and loved the cute, sweet story. A woman who is surrounded by a family that is counting her biological clock for her. She decides to end her dating disasters and become an old maid at a young age. Just as she makes this decision she is having feelings for a "friend" and a previous fling.

A great book with a love triangle - a girl at the center trying to find herself and what she wants in her mate and two guys who waffle between wanting her as a friend or lover. As triangles always do, I spent the entire book trying to decide which guy I would rather and which guy she should end the story with. No spoilers - but I am sure glad she ended it all with the one.

A sweet story that will put a smile on your face. A little twist at the end sends the closing pages into a whirlwind that you just can't predict, but can't wait to find out where it will all end. A pefect book to take on a trip to the beach or pool - the sweet story will perfectly accompany the day in the sun.

Rating:perfect beach read

Pages: 284

Cover Challenge April-June: Wedding Season

Review: Ghellow Road by T.H. Waters

Goodreads: Ghellow Road is a literary diary of a young girl's journey through the tangled labyrinth that is her life. Theresa's story begins in a large midwestern city where she is born to loving parents in 1965. For a brief moment in time, her life is full, as is her heart, and the world is hers to receive without consequence. As time passes and Theresa grows, supernatural forces begin to shape her existence, no matter how carefully her father colors the empty spaces of her world. After a series of tragic events, Theresa and her family seek refuge in a small Minnesota town nestled near the shores of Rainy Lake. She creates a new life for herself there, sharing adventures with friends and riding the ups and downs of adolescence. Yet through it all, her mother remains forever lost in the prison of her own mind and forever lost to Theresa. The young girl feels as though she is leading a double life, one that no one else could possibly understand. She begins to peer at the world as if looking through a thick, black veil, never certain which pieces are illusion and which are not. Through the kindness and support of the townspeople, she eventually summons the strength to survive.

Kritters Thoughts: An emotional ride that left me sitting on a happy note - thank goodness.

I now have a love/hate relationship for memoirs - hear me out. I love knowing that author is writing this book from within the framework of their own history and sharing some intimate secrets that may help me discover another person's history and world. I hate that I know it is true, so when bad things happen, I can't escape the feeling of wishing it had never happened to this person.

The life of this little girl who graduates and heads to college in the end was pretty rough. I am not sure I would have been able to open all the history and write such a story. Waters painted a picture of a mother who doesn't know how and doesn't want to mother, surrounded by a family that is falling apart with every day that begins. Going into foster care and eventually living with extended family, I can't imagine bouncing around as much as she did. I thoroughly appreciate the constant loving family that I grew up in with very little drama and two parents that cared for me from day one.

A memoir worth picking up to get to know someone else's true story. I had a hard time putting it down and a hard time knowing with each emotion that this story was someone's history.

Rating:definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Pages: 302