Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday --- Holiday Gift Guide Freebie ~ Nonfiction Books!


Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.


Below, in no order of importance, are ten of my favorite nonfiction picks that make for great reading for you or someone you know. The links below will take you to my reviews of each book I've listed in this post.

1. I'm not usually a huge lover of celebrity memoirs. However, I read Bryan Cranston's memoir, A Life In Parts, earlier this year and LOVED IT!! So, if you know someone who loves celebrity memoirs or is a Bryan Cranston fan, then I would recommend this book!

2. My Life On The Road by Gloria Steinem is also another wonderful book I really enjoyed earlier this year and is perfect for those who are interested in feminism/women's history.

3. Stoned: Jewelry, Obsession, and How Desire Shapes the World by Aja Raden is an excellent book that incorporates history with human desire and of course, jewelry! I love this book. 

4. The Assassination of the Archduke: Sarajevo 1914 and the Romance That Changed the World by Greg King and Sue Woolmans is highly recommended if you (or someone you know) loves European history and wants to know more about Archduke Franz Ferdinand, his marriage to his wife, Sophie, their lives together, their assassination and its aftermath in detail.

5. This Common Secret: My Journey as an Abortion Doctor by Susan Wicklund is another book I enjoyed earlier this year. Abortion is such a hot topic. It seems like people are either for it or against it. I thought it was interesting to read about this topic from the point of view of a doctor who performed abortions and what her take on the topic of abortion was.

6. I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai is an excellent book by the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. I enjoyed learning more about Malala's life.

7. The Story of Sushi: An Unlikely Saga of Raw Fish and Rice by Trevor Corson is a really well written book about the history of sushi, so if you are a foodie or sushi lover, then this book is a perfect book to read.

8. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert was one of my favorite reads in 2015. I really liked this book and it makes a great gift!!

9. The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music by Steve Lopez is an excellent book and one of my favorite books that I read in 2014.

10. The Professor & the Madman by Simon Winchester is a book that's been out for quite a while, but it became one of my favorite reads in 2014. If you or someone you know loves history and words, then you'll love this nonfiction book about the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary.

Are you a nonfiction lover/reader? If so, please share with me some of your favorite nonfiction books.

Monday, November 28, 2016

Vampire Shift by Tim O'Rourke

Unabridged Audio Version
Okay, I've been somewhat on a paranormal kick this year. So, while I was browsing Amazon's website I stumbled across Vampire Shift by Tim O'Rourke. I saw that there were 595 reviews for Vampire Shift and that this novel has a 4.3 stars out of 5 stars rating!! After reading some of the reviews and the plot summary for Vampire Shift by Tim O'Rourke, I decided to purchase the unabridged audio version of this novel from Audible.

Vampire Shift by Tim O'Rourke is a young adult/paranormal novel and the first novel in the Kiera Hudson Series. Vampire Shift is narrated by Keely Beresford. Listening time for Vampire Shift by Tim O'Rourke is 6 hours, 33 minutes.

First off, I love the cover design for Vampire Shift by Tim O'Rourke. It has a lovely cover design, which is very well suited for Vampire Shift.

Secondly, I liked the audio production of Vampire Shift by Tim O'Rourke, because echoing was actually used when the narrator mentions there is echoing, etc. 

However, I felt that Keely Beresford was a so-so narrator. Some of the voices she used for characters was way too cheesy for my personal taste.

And thirdly, I felt that Vampire Shift by Tim O'Rourke started off very promising. The first couple of chapters hooked you in, but after that things went downhill fast. The story was cheesy, the characters I could care less about, and Vampire Shift wasn't the least bit scary or interesting. I won't even bother reading the rest of the series.

I just can't believe how bad I thought Vampire Shift by Tim O'Rourke was after I finished it. I almost gave up listening to Vampire Shift on several occasions, but kept thinking it must get better. How could so many people think it was so wonderful on Amazon??

The following is a plot summary for Vampire Shift by Tim O'Rourke from Audible:
When 20-year-old police recruit Kiera Hudson is posted to the remote town of The Ragged Cove, her life is changed forever. Investigating a series of horrific murders, grave desecrations, and missing persons, with her unique ability of "seeing," Kiera soon realizes her life is in danger. 
But when Kiera falls in love with police officer Luke Bishop, not only is her mind and her heart opened to a terrifying new world, she comes to suspect that Luke might be involved in the killings. In a race against time to unearth the truth, Kiera must discover the identity of who or what is behind the gruesome deaths on the "Vampire Shift".
I am giving Vampire Shift by Tim O'Rourke a rating of 1 star out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

Unabridged Audio Version
Haruki Murakami seems to be a prolific and very popular writer who's works have been widely translated into other languages outside of Japan. I have known of Japanese author Haruki Murakami for quite a few years now, but had never read any of his published works until now. 

I finally made the decision to listen to the unabridged audio version of Haruki Murakami's novel, Norwegian Wood, for two main reasons:

1. I was kind of overwhelmed as to which of Haruki Murakami's novels to read first as most of his novels sound like interesting ones to read. It wasn't until after I read an article online, which recommended starting with his novel, Norwegian Wood, that I decided to give this novel a go.

2. Earlier this year (and also in previous years), Haruki Murakami has been heavily predicted to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. Alas, he has yet to win this prestigious literary award. I figured that Haruki Murakami's writing must be pretty darn good and worth reading if he has been heavily favored to win such a prestigious literary prize. So, I decided that it was time for me to read one of his novels.

I liked listening to the unabridged audio version of Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami and narrated by John Chancer overall. Listening time is 13 hours, 20 minutes.

I thought John Chancer did a good job of narrating Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. As far as the novel goes, Norwegian Wood is interesting and very captivating. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami is filled with interesting characters and contains an engaging coming of age story set in 1969 and 1970.

There were two things I didn't like about Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. I didn't like the abrupt ending. The reader is left wondering what the leading character of Toru Watanabe means by what he says at the end of the novel and if he remains sane or succumbs to a nervous breakdown. I also didn't like how all the women in Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami seemed crazy or flawed in some way, which made me wonder if the author doesn't like women much.

The following is a plot summary for Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami from Audible:
This stunning and elegiac novel by the author of the internationally acclaimed Wind-Up Bird Chronicle has sold over 4 million copies in Japan and is now available to American audiences for the first time. It is sure to be a literary event. 
Toru, a quiet and preternaturally serious young college student in Tokyo, is devoted to Naoko, a beautiful and introspective young woman, but their mutual passion is marked by the tragic death of their best friend years before. Toru begins to adapt to campus life and the loneliness and isolation he faces there, but Naoko finds the pressures and responsibilities of life unbearable. As she retreats further into her own world, Toru finds himself reaching out to others and drawn to a fiercely independent and sexually liberated young woman. 
A poignant story of one college student's romantic coming-of-age, Norwegian Wood takes us to that distant place of a young man's first, hopeless, and heroic love.
I am giving Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Friday, November 25, 2016

Essential Titles For Understanding Your Reproductive Rights

As a woman, I find reproductive rights a huge issue and an important one for all women and men too. I came across an article on Bustle titled 11 Essential Titles For Understanding Your Reproductive Rights by E. Ce Miller. In the article, E. Ce Miller writes:
Of the myriad freedoms in ever-increasing peril in the wake of America’s 2016 presidential election, a Trump administration’s threat to women’s reproductive rights is an issue at the forefront of many women’s minds. In the past week dozens of publications, from CNN and the Washington Post to Elle, Glamour, Jezebel, and Vogue, have reported that the number of women requesting IUDs — a small, T-shaped device implanted in a woman’s uterus, and a form of long-term birth control that could outlast a Trump presidency and is still covered by the Affordable Care Act — has skyrocketed since the election. Planned Parenthood has received more than 200,000 private donations between $10 and $10,000 since November 8, in part thanks to the #WeWontGoBack hashtag on Twitter, which is being used to share important news and information about reproductive rights and encourages donations to Planned Parenthood in response to the election. And I don’t know about you, but I’ve defended my own vagina’s inalienable rights more in the last two weeks than I have in the last 28 years put together. Suffice it to say: women are nervous. And more than a little pissed off. 
Donald Trump’s most inflammatory policies about birth control include revoking federal funding from Planned Parenthood, returning abortion laws to the discretion of individual states (which means restricting access to legal abortions for millions of women — "they might have to drive to other states," Trump said in a recent 60 Minutes interview, as though we all just have Trump's private Boeing 757 at our disposal), and toying with the idea of “punishing” both abortion-seeking women and their doctors. But when it comes to legislating the uterus, Trump’s VP pick is a whole other story. Mike Pence’s history with women’s reproductive rights includes his being the first congressman to propose revoking all federal funding from Planned Parenthood (in 2011), signing eight anti-abortion bills into law during his first four years as governor of Indiana, co-sponsoring a bill designed to redefine “rape” in order to further restrict women from seeking legal abortions, delegitimizing condoms as a safe and effective form of birth control and STD-prevention (in a CNN interview), and closing so many Planned Parenthood locations in Indiana (none of which even performed abortions) that egregious lack of affordable care led to a 2015 HIV epidemic that has since been declared a public health emergency. So, plenty to look forward to if this proposed administration holds.
Lots of food for thought when it comes to reproductive rights! Click on the top link to discover the essential books for understanding your reproductive rights.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday ~ Thanksgiving FREEBIE!!


Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.


Here are my top ten favorite things I am grateful for blogging and book wise this year!

1. I am grateful for all of you who follow my book blog and leave me awesome comments! Thank you for your support!!

2. I am thankful for all the author events I've attended this year. Plus, the Bay Area Book Festival I also attended for the 2nd year in a row in Berkeley, California. I had the chance to meet Sherman Alexie this year at the Bay Area Book Festival and have him sign copies of the books I have of his in my collection!! I was also thrilled to met Amy Stewart once again at an author signing event as well as author Arturo Reverte-Perez, Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket), and Olympic runner Shalane Flanagan to name a few of the authors I've heard speak this year.

3. I'm thankful for all the free books I've received through Goodreads, Netgalley, and from the writers and narrators themselves. I accumulated to many new free books this year than I can recollect!

4. I am thankful and grateful the Audible membership I received as  Christmas gift from my husband! I am totally loving my Audible experience. I am most likely going to request another Audible membership for Christmas this year.

5. I've enjoyed reading over 80 books this year so far and am hoping to read a total of 100 books by the end of the year. I've discovered many new authors to me this year and have read many interesting books so far that it's going to be difficult to come up with a short list of favorites books read for the calendar year.

6. I've been a member of Bookcrossing for almost a decade now and love the sense of community with this world wide book community. I've exchange many books with other readers, learned about many interesting books from other readers, and so much more.

7. I am thankful for all of the wonderful independent bookstores in the San Francisco Bay Area and San Francisco's East Bay that are such a joy to visit. I love getting lost in a good bookstore and buying new books to add to my ever growing book collection. I also especially love bookstores with various book events to attend... And there are many of these kinds of events to attend in my local area!

8. Little Free Libraries are in abundance in my area as well and are a fun way to exchange books with other readers!

9. The annual Bay Area Book Festival in Berkeley, California is an awesome literary event to attend in my neck of the woods as well.

10. I am also very happy that I have been blogging since January 1, 2012 and continue to enjoy writing frequent blog posts on a regular basis. When I first began my book blog, I wasn't even sure if I'd be able to keep posting enough interesting things to attract and keep readers. Or even be interested in keeping up a blog after the first year or two. But as my 5th year of blogging soon comes to a close, I hope that I continue to enjoy blogging on a regular basis in the years to come.

Monday, November 21, 2016

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Elusive (On the Run #1) by Sara Rosett

Unabridged Audiobook
I listened to the unabridged Audible audio version of Elusive (On the Run #1) by Sara Rosett and narrated by Laura Princiotta. Listening time for this novel is 10 hours, 16 minutes.

I was in the mood for a light thriller to listen to as I've been sick with a cold this past week and Elusive (On the Run #1) by Sara Rosett seemed to fit the bill. Elusive (On the Run #1) by Sara Rosett is the first novel in the series and features, Zoe Hunter, as the leading character.

Overall, I enjoyed listening to Elusive (On the Run #1) by Sara Rosett. I thought that Laura Princiotta was really good at narrating this novel and her narration is one of my favorite features of listening to Elusive (On the Run #1)

The story/plot for Elusive (On the Run #1) unfolded smoothly. The characters were developed nicely enough for my taste for a low key read and I enjoyed the different locals for this novel. My only minor complaint is that Elusive (On the Run #1) moved a tad bit slow for me. Otherwise, I felt it was a good read.

The following is a summary for Elusive (On the Run #1) by Sara Rosett from Audible:
If you enjoy Elizabeth Peter's Vicky Bliss series or Romancing the Stone, Elusive has the same mix of mystery, international travel, and light romance.
Zoe Hunter loves living on the edge. free-spirited and spontaneous, she’s built a life stringing together various freelance gigs that keep her bank account barely in the black.
But when her ex, Jack, goes missing along with several million dollars from his business and the FBI zeros in on her as a person of interest, Zoe’s life goes from delightfully unpredictable to downright frightening.
Plunged into a world of fake identities, deception, and murder, she’s afraid to trust anyone. Zoe impulsively skips town in a search for answers that takes her from Las Vegas to Italy, but instead of tracking down answers, she only uncovers more questions.
Who was Jack? Is he dead or did he fake his disappearance? And, what was he mixed up in - art theft, the mafia, espionage, or all three?
I am giving Elusive (On the Run #1) by Sara Rosett a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Thursday, November 17, 2016

A Journal of Sin by Darryl Donaghue

Unabridged Audio Version
I finished listening to the unabridged audio version of A Journal of Sin by Darryl Donaghue and narrated by Georgina Tate. Listening time for A Journal of Sin by Darryl Donaghue is 7 hours, 51 minutes.

I really wanted to love A Journal of Sin by Darryl Donaghue, as the premise of this novel was an intriguing one, but I was pretty disappointed overall with this novel. 

The best part of A Journal of Sin by Darryl Donaghue was Georgina Tate's narration of the novel.

The worst part of A Journal of Sin by Darryl Donaghue was being able to pick out the murderer early on in the novel. I was hoping who I thought was going to be the murderer would be a red herring, but it wasn't the case. 

I also thought it was weird that PC Sarah Gladstone (the main character) was so unfamiliar with the villagers in the English countryside she was visiting. PC Sarah Gladstone was visiting with her mother, who is a long time resident of the English village. For as long as her mother had lived in the English village, I'd think PC Sarah Gladstone either grown up in the same village or at least be more familiar with many of the residents of the English village than she was during her stay with her mother. It just seemed odd... I mean why wouldn't you make the main character more well known within the community? It surely would make investigating the murder a whole lot easier. This way PC Sarah Gladstone would be a trusted confidant to the villagers themselves.

The characters themselves were okay. I really didn't care much for any of the characters in A Journal of Sin by Darryl Donaghue. The writing in A Journal of Sin by Darryl Donaghue was mediocre. 

The following is a plot summary for A Journal of Sin by Darryl Donaghue from Audible:
A murdered priest leaves behind records of confessional secrets. Secrets someone would prefer he took to the grave. 
A small town in the English countryside isolated by a severe storm, and a young female officer, alone and out of her depth. A troubled priest is brutally murdered, leaving behind a journal of the residents' confessional secrets; secrets certain people would have preferred he took to the grave. 
As word spreads, the pressure rises as the eyes of the town watch her every move. With no forensic team, no support, and a savage killer hiding in a turbulent town, is PC Sarah Gladstone up to the task?
I am giving A Journal of Sin by Darryl Donaghue a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Tips & Tricks for Lending Your Books and Getting Them Back!

I haven't lent out any books in years to family or friends because either the books would never be returned to me or come back damaged in some way (dogeared pages, broken spines, writing in the margins, or mysterious stain on the pages, etc.)...

I did come across an article on Bustle titled 7 Tips For Lending Books — And Getting Them Back Safely by Emma Oulton. My favorite tips mentioned in the article are as follows:

1. Take a picture of your friend with your book as proof they have it.

2. Take one of their books hostage in hopes this will persuade them to return yours to you in due time.

3. Place books inside protective covers to protect the dust jacket from finger prints, dust jacket tears, etc.

Click on the above article to read other tips for lending and retrieving books you loan to others.

Maybe I'll loan books out in the future once again. The only exception would be signed copies of books I have in my collection.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Bookish Quote of the Day!!


Top Ten Tuesday ~ Top Twelve Favorite Movies Based On Novels



Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.


The following are my top 12 favorite movies based on books:

No Country For Old Men
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Shutter Island
Absolute Power
Memento
The Green Mile
The Shawshank Redemption
The Wizard of Oz
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory
The Color Purple
Red Dragon
Memoirs of a Geisha

So, which movies based on books are your favorites?

Sunday, November 13, 2016

The Simpsons Comics ~ Barn Burner by Matt Groening

Paperback Edition
I am a member of Bookcrossing and another Bookcrosser gave me a copy of The Simpsons Comics Barn Burner by Matt Groening to read. The Simpsons Comics Barn Burner by Matt Groening contains eleven Simpsons comics in one volume.

I enjoyed watching The Simpsons cartoons on television ages ago. So, I enjoyed reading my first Simpsons comic book ever in a couple of days. I enjoyed the different stories featuring the different Simpson family members and other characters from the Simpsons. It was like revisiting old friends again.

If you enjoy reading comics and also like The Simpsons, then I recommend reading The Simpsons Comics Barn Burner by Matt Groening. The color artwork is really good.

I am giving The Simpsons Comics Barn Burner by Matt Groening a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Friday, November 11, 2016

6 Online Book Clubs You Can on YouTube!!

I never thought about book clubs being on YouTube before, but apparently it's a thing! I read an article on Bustle titled 6 YouTube Book Clubs You Can Join From The Comfort Of Your Own Home by Emma Oulton. In the article, Oulton writes:
A group of friends meeting up for a book club is such a lovely idea, but these days, who has the time? If you're hosting, you have the pressure of providing snacks and wine. If you made everyone read the whole of Gone with the Wind last month, you're pretty much obliged to read whatever long-ass book your friend has chosen, whether or not you're actually enjoying it. There's no denying it: old-fashioned book clubs have a lot of drawbacks.
That's why online book clubs are so great: you can join in as and when you choose; you only have to buy popcorn for one person; and you can attend them in your pajamas from the comfort of your own home (you can still bring the wine, though). But sometimes, online book clubs can feel a little lonely — especially if you're just looking at words on the screen.
I look forward to checking out these online book clubs on YouTube.

What do you think about the idea of participating in a book club hosted on YouTube? 

Evil In Carnations by Kate Collins

Another Fun Cozy Mystery Novel to Read!
I enjoy reading cozy mystery novels quite a bit and have read several of them over the years.

I've been reading the cozy 'Flower Shop Mystery Series' by Kate Collins off and on over the past few years and have enjoyed reading this series very much!! 

I finished reading Evil In Carnations by Kate Collins this week and it is the ninth novel in the 'Flower Shop Mystery Series' by Kate Collins. I enjoyed reading this cozy mystery novel and have found it to be another winner in the 'Flower Shop Mystery Series'.

Kate Collins is a good writer. I like the characters she has created in her 'Flower Shop Mystery Series' especially the main character of Abby Knight and her long time beau, Marco Salvare. The plot was nicely done for Evil In Carnations by Kate Collins and feel it is a very engaging novel. I am glad I read it and look forward to reading more novels in this cozy series.

The following is a plot summary for Evil In Carnations by Kate Collins from Amazon:
Determined to help her roommate Nikki out of her singles slump, Abby Knight encourages her to give speed dating a try. Of course, Nikki wants the guy at the very bottom of Abby's list, Jonas Treat, a.k.a. Treat the Cheat, and figures just one date with him couldn't hurt. But then Jonas is found dead, and evidence points to Nikki as his killer.
To clear Nikki's name, Abby enlists the help of her hunky ex-Army Ranger boyfriend, Marco. But Marco's rambunctious extended family turns Abby's hectic life into a disaster zone. With her patience seriously wilting, and a killer on the loose, Abby is determined to dig herself out of this mess before someone buries her instead...
I am giving Evil In Carnations by Kate Collins a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday --- Ten Books I've Added To My To-Be-Read List Lately



Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.


Here are ten of my most recently added books to my ever growing 'to be read pile':

1. Indigo: In Search of the Color That Seduced the World by Catherine E. McKinley
2. Tippi: A Memoir by Tippi Hedren
3. The Heart of Henry Quantum by Pepper Harding
4. Black Run by Antonio Manzini
5. The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson
6. Night of the Animals by Bill Broun
7. A Killer Kebab by Susannah Hardy
8. Run Fast, Eat Slow by Shalane Flannagan & Elyse Kopecky
9. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
10. Lady Cop Makes Trouble by Amy Stewart

Monday, November 7, 2016

Which Haruki Murakami Book Should I Read First?

Hmmm, this is seriously a question I've been asking myself the past 4-6 weeks ever since I learned that Haruki Murakami was heavily favored to win the Nobel Prize for Literature earlier this year. In fact, I've read that Haruki Murakami has been a contender in previous years to won the Nobel Prize for Literature, but has yet to win this literary prize to date.

Then, sure enough, I come across an article on Bustle's website titled today Which Haruki Murakami Book Should I Read First? 'Norwegian Wood' Is An Ideal Starting Point by Stephanie Tapacio Long. In the article, Long writes:
If you’ve paid attention to Nobel Prize contenders in literature over the past several years, you may have noticed that the name Haruki Murakami always seems to crop up. The Japanese writer has been prolific over the past two-plus decades, turning out numerous novels, short stories, and collections worth reading. You won’t find a bad Murakami book, but those unfamiliar with his work may be wondering: which Haruki Murakami book should I read first?
Murakami is best known for his surrealist novels, but his first realist one, Norwegian Wood, is perhaps the best place to start. The book took Murakami from “cult” status to the big leagues when it came out — and for good reason. The 1987 classic features relevant, global themes, a mesmerizing narrative, and one particularly empowering, intriguing character.
So, now I have my answer and I will soon download the unabridged audio version of Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami from Audible in a couple of days. 

Previously, I'd been thinking of downloading Murakami's novels Hear the Wind Sing and Pinball, 1973 from Audible before reading the above article.

Saturday, November 5, 2016

Books For Fans of the Television Series 'Black Mirror'

My husband is a fan of the television series 'Black Mirror'. I've watched a few of the shows in passing along with him. 

Yesterday morning, I discovered an article on Bustle's website titled, 13 Books Like 'Black Mirror' For Fans Who've Already Watched Every Episode by Julia Seales, I couldn't resist reading this article as I wanted to discover which books made the list. I may just have to read a couple of the books mentioned in article Julia Seales wrote.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Tippi: A Memoir by Tippi Hedren

I've only seen one movie that Tippi Hedren ever acted in and that movie was The Birds. I saw The Birds ages ago and honestly, I don't remember much about the movie other than birds start attacking people.

Anyway, I won a FREE hardback edition of Tippi: A Memoir by Tippi Hedren through Goodreads recently. I've never considered myself a Tippi Hedren fan and almost gave this book away to someone else to read. Somehow or another though, Tippi Hedren's memoir became the next book I read! Below is my unbiased review of Tippi: A Memoir by Tippi Hedren.

Prior to reading Ms. Hedren's memoir, I didn't know much about her life other than she was the actress who starred in both Marnie and The Birds... And, also that Tippi Hedren is Melanie Griffith's mother. Otherwise, I learned a bunch of new things about Tippi Hedren's life that I didn't know before reading her memoir.

As far as a memoir goes, I felt Ms. Hedren's life made for interesting reading. One learns about Tippi Hedren's life growing up, how she began modeling and became an actress, her marriages, and how she became an animal activist and started the Shambala Preserve in Acton, California while reading her memoir.

Tippi Hedren has had many ups and downs in her life and has weathered many storms. I love how positive she is about life and isn't about feeling sorry for herself in the least regarding anything bad that has happened in her life. But I think Tippi Hedren has mostly been blessed with a wonderful life. I admire Tippi Hedren's tenacity and how she has accomplished whatever it is she has set out to accomplish in her life.

I felt like Tippi Hedren's memoir was too short regarding some areas of her life and way too long in other areas. Take for instance her love of big cats (tigers, lions, etc.)  and adopting and taking care of them with her second husband, Noel Marshall... This also includes making the movie Roar and all the fiascoes that went along with making Roar and training/taking care of wild animals. 

I can fully understand Tippi Hedren's love and passion for wildlife, but I felt like a very HUGE chunk of her memoir was largely devoted to her love of animals, creating the Shambala Preserve, and making the movie, Roar, etc. I found this part of Tippi Hedren's life interesting to read about, but I also felt like a little too much of her memoir was devoted to her love of wild life, filming Roar, etc. I would like to have seen more balance between this part of her life with other areas of her life.

I also felt like certain sections of Tippi Hedren's memoir didn't flow very well from one paragraph to the next... Sometimes topics seemed to change abruptly in some parts of her memoir.

I was also felt uneasy about certain events that happened like Tippi Hedren and her husband, Noel Marshall, having lions/wild cats in their home in Sherman Oaks, California for a time. I would think that would be an unwise idea for several reasons... I wouldn't want these animals destroying my home and personal property, potentially injuring me or others, getting loose from my home and causing trouble/mayhem in their wake. Besides, isn't having lions (and other wild cats) against the law to have living in one's home??? A couple of the wild animals do escape accidentally from her home in Sherman Oaks, but eventually found. 

Also, Tippi Hedren takes Pharoah, a cheetah, to a couple of stores with her in the Los Angeles area, which also seemed unwise as wild cats can be unpredictable, right? What if the animal attacked and injured someone during the outings??? 

The following is a summary for Tippi: A Memoir by Tippi Hedren from Amazon:
In this absorbing and surprising memoir, one of the biggest names of classic Hollywood—the star of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds and Marnie—tells her story, including never-before-revealed experiences on the set of some of the biggest cult films of all time.
For decades, Tippi Hedren’s luminous beauty radiated from the silver screen, enchanting moviegoers and cementing her position among Hollywood’s elite—beauty and star power that continue to endure. For too long Hedren’s story has been told by others through whispered gossip and tabloid headlines. Now, Hedren sets the record straight, recalling how a young and virtuous Lutheran girl from small-town Minnesota became a worldwide legend—as one of the most famous Hitchcock girls, as an unwavering animal activist, and as the matriarch of a powerful Hollywood dynasty that includes her movie star daughter Melanie Griffith, and rising star Dakota Johnson, her granddaughter.
For the first time, Hedren digs deep into her complicated relationship with the man who discovered her talent, director Alfred Hitchcock, the benefactor who would become a repulsive and controlling director who contractually controlled her every move. She speaks openly about the dark pain she endured working with him on their most famous collaborations, The Birds and Marnie, and finding the courage she needed to break away.
Hedren’s incandescent spirit shines through as she talks about working with the great Charlie Chaplin, sharing the screen with some of the most esteemed actors in Hollywood, her experiences on some of the most intriguing and troubling film sets—including filming Roar, one of the most dangerous movies ever made—and the struggles of being a single mother—balancing her dedication to her work and her devotion to her daughter—and her commitment to helping animals.
Filled with sixteen pages of beautiful photos, Tippi is a rare and fascinating look at a private woman’s remarkable life no celebrity aficionado can miss.
I am giving Tippi: A Memoir by Tippi Hedren a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Favorite quote: "I don't believe in curses. I don't really believe in luck, either, good or bad. I believe life happens, and you shoulder through the worst of it with your head held high and give thanks to God for the rest of it." Page 227 of the hardback edition.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Best Selling Books Written During NaNoWriMo!!

Just in case you didn't know, November is National Novel Writing Month. So, it was interesting to learn which best selling novels were actually written during NaNoWriMo in an article written by Emma Oulton titled 8 Best-Selling Books Written During NaNoWriMo That Show You It Can Be Done and published on Bustle's website.

I was very surprised to find that Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen, and The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern were written during NaNoWriMo!

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Henrietta The Dragon Slayer by Beth Barany

eBook Edition
I first became aware of Beth Barany as an author earlier this year when I attended the 2016 Bay Area Book Festival in Berkeley, California. Beth Barany was the moderator for an interesting author event I attended titled 'From Bodice Rippers to Trailblazers: Feminism through Romance'

After attending the 'From Bodice Rippers to Trailblazers: Feminism through Romance' event, I decided that Beth Barany's Henrietta The Dragon Slayer series sounded very intriguing based on the plot summary and the overall high ratings it has received on Amazon's website based on customer reviews. Henrietta The Dragon Slayer by Beth Barany is the first novel in the series and is approximately 238 pages in length. Henrietta The Dragon Slayer falls into the young adult fantasy genre and is also the 2012 Winner of the California Fiction Writer's Book Contest.

So, I went ahead and purchased the ebook edition of Henrietta The Dragon Slayer by Beth Barany from Amazon and read it on my Kindle over the course of a few days. 

I was surprised to find that some minor editing throughout Henrietta The Dragon Slayer by Beth Barany needed to be done after reading this novel. I expect an award winning novel to be more polished and be completely free of errors by the time it is released to readers.

As far as the story goes, I enjoyed the premise of the Henrietta The Dragon Slayer. I like that a strong female heroine is the leading character in this novel and that she happens to be in a nontraditional female role.... Women are usually aren't dragon slayers or blacksmiths. 

But I thought there was too much drama between Henrietta and Franc (the Knight) during much of the novel. I also felt that Henrietta was way too curt/short with Paulette (a witch in training) throughout most of the novel. I think the interactions of the characters seemed too stunted in how they responded to each other. They all seemed to act a bit like immature teenagers to some degree in their posturing. 

It wasn't until towards the end of the novel that I thought all four of the main characters finally became more interesting. By the end of the novel, we see that Henrietta has grown emotionally and learned more about herself by going through the events she has in the novel. Henrietta has changed for the better and is happier for it.

The following is the plot summary for Henrietta The Dragon Slayer by Beth Barany from GoodReads:
Henrietta, the legendary Dragon Slayer of the Kingdom of Bleuve, can’t stomach the thought of one more kill. Yet, in order to save her dying mentor, she must go on one last quest. But will the quest for the healing stone be derailed by misfit companions, seasickness, and an egomaniacal king? And will she be able cut past her conscience and kill the dragon?
I am giving Henrietta The Dragon Slayer by Beth Barany a rating of 2.5 stars out of 5 stars. 

I won't be reading the rest of the series. In the end, I just didn't care enough about the characters or the storyline to want to read any further.

Until my next post, happy reading!!