Why 50 Shades shouldn't be dismissed as mere Twilight fan fic

I have spoken to several friends who are curious about the 50 Shades craze, and one friend who read it back when it was really just fan fic who thinks I'm an idiot for enjoying the series so much.  While 50 Shades certainly isn't for everyone, and I don't think it's a MUST READ, the attitude of it being inferior to other romance stories or that I have no taste for enjoying it really irks me.  I think the general attitude is that if you think Twilight sucks, then this book that is BASED OFF Twilight must be even lamer.  Here's why I think 50 Shades shouldn't be discounted because of its origins:

1. Christian's control issues are viewed as an illness and treated as such.  In Twilight, Edward's crazy protection/control mentality is seen as for Bella's own good.  In 50 Shades, Christian is seeing a therapist, and he and Ana eventually work out that control in the bedroom is good for them (though they switch it up), but Christian trying to control Ana's life is unacceptable.  She gets angry at him and stands up for herself.  I love that at several points she refuses to back down.  She doesn't get flustered and start doubting her stance- instead she fights for her freedom and refuses to give in to Christian.  He has to come to terms by adjusting his behavior, and although it is sometimes painful, he does.

2. There are no vampires, werewolves, or other paranormal elements.  My fiance was still laboring under the assumption that Christian was a vampire. No.  All paranormal elements have been removed, which also removes the strange desire Edward feels to eat Bella because of his "nature."  Although Christian at some point admits to wanting to hurt women, there are psychological reasons for this and it is addressed as part of his mental illness, not a sexy thing.  Edward wanting to suck the life out of Bella but trying to control himself is portrayed as hot; Christian wanting to beat a woman is portrayed as unhealthy and unacceptable.

3. Ana is not a dishrag.  While Ana reminds me of Bella during the first couple of chapters where she is clumsy and has bad fashion sense, Ana quickly develops into a strong-willed, smart, and passionate woman.  She is able to defend herself and does at a couple points, she is not afraid to be alone (no laying the woods for hours), and she knows what she wants from life.  While Ana does bite her lip to the point of obnoxiousness, she isn't mousy.  She actually IS very beautiful and interesting.

4. There is no morality message from 50 Shades.  Twilight's pro-abstinence, pro-life, and sometimes religious undertones are not evident in 50 Shades.  This is just a fun series for grown-ups without the author trying to make something that is not spiritual into a message- no hidden PSAs here.

To wrap up, I'd like to point out that while I would be embarrassed to be seen reading either series on the train (I love my Kindle!), aside from a basic outline the actual perspectives and tones of the novels are very different.  Not to say they don't have things in common, because they clearly do, but 50 Shades isn't "Twilight for grown-ups."  It isn't even really "What if Edward and Bella were into BDSM?"  (The BDSM sub-plot takes a backseat to other story-lines.) It's an erotic romance series about unconditional love and overcoming mental illness.

GIVEAWAY- Swamps, Gunshots, and Stolen Jewels: Review of Brightwing by Sullivan Lee

Brightwing

Sullivan Lee

Available from Amazon,

Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords

Adult Action/Thriller

Brightwing is the story of Lucy Brightwing, the last living member of the Tequesta tribe, and her life-changing run-in with infamous brothers Edgar and Mallory Battle.  Lucy is a hardworking, nature-loving, beautiful young woman.  Edgar is my favorite kind of criminal- one with a personal moral code, like Captain Jack Sparrow.  He's recently escaped from prison, and on the run with his younger brother Mallory.  Mallory is an absolute sociopath.  More on this later.

Lucy is given the opportunity to steal some uncut jewels, and her cut of the deal would be enough for her to purchase some land to start her own tribe.  She experiences car trouble on her way home after the theft, and Edgar and Mallory see her on the side of the road and decide to use her as a hostage.  Little do they know, she is not an average woman, and she could easily escape from them or kill them- at the risk of losing her jewels.  She also knows that she must stay alive at all costs, to keep the Tequesta blood alive.  Together the three evade the law and must decide how to resolve their individual problems.

Brightwing is extremely well-written- the language is beautiful, the editing is well-done, and the action and dialogue flow comfortably.  Lucy is a cool, very likable character.  She is resourceful and powerful, and her love of the land brings back memories of Disney's Pocahontas.  Edgar is also likeable, although as the author pointed out in her interview with this blog, his character is not that of the traditional male hero.  Lucy really is more powerful than him, and he experiences tons of personal conflict in the story regarding his brother and his desire for freedom.  I absolutely hated Mallory.  Mallory reminded me of Lennie from Of Mice and Men- IF Lennie was a psychopath, IF Lennie did not recognize other beings as having life, and IF Lennie found personal pleasure in cruel, unspeakable acts.  However, Mallory's character is part of what made this story unique- he is presented as sympathetic from some angles, which was an interesting perspective that stretched my thinking.

My favorite part of the story is the end.  The last 100 or 200 pages on my iPhone were really fun and exciting, with cool twists.  I also enjoyed reading about how Lucy transferred power from the men to herself gradually.  If I could change anything about the story, it would be to take away a little bit of the swamp descriptions- I've never liked setting descriptions in books, and although the descriptions are eloquent and the settings intricate, I prefer more action and dialogue.  I would also make certain scenes less graphic.  I can't watch CSI or anything like that because graphic violence, particularly of a sexual nature freaks me out.

I would recommend this book to adults who enjoy stories of survival, action, and nature.  The Floridian swamp setting is almost a character in this book, it plays such a big part, and nature lovers might really enjoy that aspect.

Giveaway time!!

Thanks to the generous author, I am giving away two e-copies of this book.  Please fill out the form below.  Ages 13+ only.  This giveaway will end in one week, on September 3 at midnight.



**Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**

Lucky Charm Blog Tour- Interview With Author Marie Astor

Lucky Charm

Marie Astor

Adult Contemporary Romance

Purchase at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Smashwords

I love the cute cover!
What a classic, romantic scene.

Author Marie Astor

LPFR: As a newer author, many bloggers may still be unfamiliar with you.  Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself?

MA: I am a die-hard romantic who wholeheartedly believes in true love, which is why I write in the contemporary romance genre. I am the author of a contemporary romance novel, Lucky Charm, and a short story collection, A Chance Encounter and Other Stories. In addition to being a writer, I am an avid hiker, an excellent swimmer, a good skier, and a capable badminton player.

LPFR: Please tell us about Lucky Charm in one sentence.

MA: In a nutshell, Lucky Charm is a story about a girl who loses her faith in love, but it is also a story about friendship and forgiveness, and most importantly, it is a story about being brave enough to believe in love and having the courage to pursue it.

LPFR: What was your inspiration for writing Lucky Charm?

MA: Romance is such a big part of women’s lives – we spend so much time dreaming and worrying about finding that special someone, but when things do not go exactly as planned, we rely on our friends to help us through the tough times. I knew I wanted to write a fun contemporary romance about the role that friendships play in women’s lives and the challenges of opening up to love after getting one’s heart broken.

At first, the idea started out as a short story I wrote, entitled Lady Luck, which is part of my short story collection, A Chance Encounter and Other Stories. By the time I finished the outline for Lucky Charm, the novel turned out to be very different from the short story that inspired it.

LPFR: You handle the unraveling of Annabel’s engagement with honesty and hope.  I went through a broken engagement as well… What advice do you as a romance writer and woman have for others recovering from broken relationships?

MA: Never give up on love! We’ve all suffered from a broken heart - as daunting as it may feel at the time, it is possible to fall in love again.

LPFR: What is your favorite part of the story?

MA: My favorite part of the story is when Etienne takes Annabel for a tour of a chateau – Annabel is expecting them to be part of a tour group, but instead she finds herself sharing a romantic evening alone with Etienne.

LPFR: What are some of your favorite books right now?

MA: I just finished rereading Sidney Sheldon’s If Tomorrow Comes. I absolutely love this book - it’s got romance, intrigue, revenge – what more could a reader want?

LPFR: What are you working on now?  Can we expect another book soon?

MA: I am currently working on my next contemporary romance – it is a love story set at a ski resort. The book should be coming out in November. Please visit my website, http://www.marieastor.com/ for updates. Here is a little preview:

At twenty two Maggie has a lot of important decisions to make: Jeffrey, her aspiring politician boyfriend of five years has just proposed to her, and an acceptance letter from one of the best law schools in the country is lying on her desk. But is that what she really wants? The answer comes most unexpectedly when during a ski trip to Colorado she meets Taylor, a handsome, free-spirited big mountain skier who is the complete opposite of Jeffrey. Maggie’s attraction to Taylor is undeniable, but she is engaged to marry Jeffrey. Will Maggie find the courage to follow her heart?

LPFR: Thank you, Marie Astor, for this interview!

I received a copy of this book from the author for review.  Review for this book to come soon.  Visit the next stop tomorrow August 28th at Housewife Blues & Chihuahua Stories!

Love Potions, Librarians, and a Tiny Hispanic Boy: Review of Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz

Witches of East End

#1, The Beauchamp Family

Melissa de la Cruz

Adult, 272 pages

I like the cover, but I'm not too sure
why there are pretty red leaves.

This is Melissa de la Cruz's first adult novel, and I LOVED it.  It was fun, but not ridiculous (some of the Blue Bloods kind of weirded me out), it read smoothly, and basically, it was like the perfect truffle- rich but not too big of a serving.  I also liked that although there will be more books about the Beauchamps, this book could be a stand-alone novel.  As in, it's a complete story in one book!  Imagine that!

North Hampton is an old-fashioned coastal town in New York, and three witches live there.  Joanna Beauchamp lives there with her two adult daughters, Ingrid and Freya, and their familiars: a griffin, a raven, and a cat.  Joanna's gift is wisdom, Ingrid's is Hearth, and Freya's gift is love.  Unfortunately, back in the 1600's, the three were told that they could no longer practice magic- they had to live as humans...  So Joanna is a lonely woman, Ingrid works at the local library as an architectural archivist, and Freya is a bartender, engaged to be married to wealthy Bran Gardiner.  Things are going well for the family until Freya's eye is caught by Bran's younger brother at their engagement party.  When Ingrid decides to secretly practice a little magic to help a fellow librarian conceive, things really start to spin out of control, and the events that follow start to look pretty bad for the family.

As I said, this was an excellent novel.  It's advertised as a summer read, and it's really perfect for reading right now, with the end of summer mentality going around.  For me, it's cooler nights, stormy weather, and an air of nostalgia.  Some Blue Bloods characters show up, which is fun, and there is a heavy infusion of Norse mythology, particularly at the end.  It's also refreshing to read the first book in a paranormal series where the paranormal beings already know about their powers!  All three main characters are engaging and likeable.  Joanna is a very motherly figure, and her affection for her housekeeper's young son is endearing.  Ingrid, who might have an unrequited crush, has a sincere desire to help others, and Freya's passion for love and life is energizing and sexy.  My favorite part is when Freya starts to mix up love potions at her bar- I love fancy drinks, and magical ones sound even better!

I'd recommend this to older fans of Blue Bloods- I like this book better, and it's got a positive energy flowing through it. I'm looking forward to the next book!

Interview with Sullivan Lee, Author of Brightwing

Review of Brightwing to come later this week!

LPFR: Since you usually write books for younger readers, many bloggers may be unfamiliar with you! Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself?

SL: I'm a former newspaper editor, former social worker, former deputy sheriff, current mother, constant worrier, and perpetual writer. Under my real name (Laura L. Sullivan) I write books for children. Under the Green Hill and Guardian of the Green Hill (Holt Books for Young Readers) are about a group of children caught in the middle of a fairy war.  Ladies in Waiting, out next May from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, is a bawdy historical set in the 1660s England.

When I started writing adult crime novels (hey, I have to put that law enforcement training to use!) I was intrigued by the self publishing world, and decided to experiment. It's going very well so far!

You can find out more about me on my blog, The Omniscient Third Person.

http://lauralsullivan.blogspot.com/

LPFR: Please tell us about your book in just one sentence.

SL: Two criminal brothers on the run get more than they bargain for when they take a female thief hostage.

(Whew! I should note that I'm not good at short. My last contracted book had a 90K word cap and my first draft was 120K. I turned it in at 106K and my poor editor had to do her magic.)

LPFR: I'm guessing your past as a Deputy Sheriff made you interested in the criminal aspect of the story, but what was your inspiration for writing about the indigenous peoples of Florida?

SL: I've lived most of my life in Florida (right now I'm in Kentucky but I'll be moving back soon) and I've always been fascinated with its early history. Florida was, essentially, Clan of the Cave Bear at the beach, with humans living beside mammoths, giant sloths, sabre-tooth cats, and man-eating terror birds. (Even Ayla didn't have to contend with those!)

I've been an amateur fossil hunter for years, and though most of what I find is from animals, I've also found a few relics of the people – beads and arrowheads. Florida has lost a lot of pristine habitat, but you can still find places – especially in the swamps – that are a lot like they were when Florida's first indigenous people were there. (Of course, most of them quite sensibly lived on the coast, or the spring-fed, higher elevation interior. No one in their right mind lives in the swamps if they can help it!) Florida still has a bit of a primal feel, and it never seemed like the paleoindians were too distant.

So when I needed a heroine who was perfectly at home in the Florida wilderness, I looked to pre-history. The Tequesta are a real tribe, but (as far as we know) they died out about 300 years ago. (The Seminole and Miccosukee tribes came later, fleeing from the north, and the Seminoles probably owe their status as the only unconquered tribe to the fact that they moved to the inhospitable Everglades.) I tweaked history to make a branch of the Tequesta line survive to this day.

LPFR: I have to be honest with you- your story left me feeling unsettled.  Without giving away anything, the last third or so of the book contains some surprises (both good and bad, in my opinion), and the last page was not really what I was expecting!  How did you feel about the ending of the book, and how do you expect other readers will feel?

SL: When you write for a commercial publisher, there is a lot of pressure to make your book conform to certain presuppositions. Villains should die (or be defeated until the sequel) and when a couple gets together their emotions should be overwhelmingly happy. That's what they think will sell best – and it probably does. I decided that I needed to tell a different kind of story.

The characters I created in Brightwing are meant to be very disturbing people. And the things they do? As you say, unsettling. They do things which, in other people, would be unbelievable, but which are perfectly in accord with their natures. I wanted to induce strong emotions in the reader – disgust at Mallory's actions, shock at Lucy's reaction to them, puzzlement and sympathy over Edgar's emasculated role. And the ending is deliberately provoking – but again, it suits the characters' natures.

I wrote an alternate ending first, with Mallory dying, but it just wasn't right. When I reworked it, I also saw what terrible wonders he could do in a sequel, so he had to stay. (The sequel, Swamp Bordello, will be out in about a year.)

Most of all, I want Brightwing to be a book people think about long after they finish reading it. Justice and happy endings fade quickly, I think, but if you've thrown a book across the room a time or two – and picked it up again – you'll never forget it.

LPFR: That's funny, because I came close to throwing the book.  I'm glad I didn't, seeing as how I was reading the ebook on my phone.  How did the experience of writing for adults differ from your other writing?

SL: To me, writing for children and writing for adults feels fundamentally the same. Children are slightly less forgiving, and not quite so easy to manipulate as adult readers, but I tell the stories pretty much the same way. I never write down to children, and I never sugarcoat emotions, good or bad. All of my books, I think, speak of the world being an exquisitely lovely place, but terribly unsafe, which children need to learn, and adults need to be reminded of.

LPFR: What are you currently reading?

SL: I just started Kushiel's Dart, by Jacqueline Carey. I'm a sucker for slave-girl and courtesan narratives! It's fascinating that the main character is a complete masochist without being at all weak.

LPFR: What advice do you have for young writers who are trying finish a novel and get it published?

SL: Pretty standard stuff – read everything you can get your hands on. Not every sensitive reader can become a sensitive writer, but I don't think you can be a good writer without being a true reader first.

When you've finished your first manuscript, lock it away and spend the next few months doing research about the publishing world. When you think you're beginning to understand it, edit your book – many times. Put it away and research the market again. Edit again. Then simultaneously start your new book and begin to query agents. You need the new book to take your mind off checking your email every three minutes!

If you decide to go the self-published route, do the same, but double your research time!

LPFR: Thanks for the opportunity to read and review your book!  

SL: And thank you so much for having me on La Petite Fille Rousse!

MEG CABOT WEEK: Happy Birthday to Overbite!

Overbite

The Insatiable Series, Book 2

Meg Cabot

July 2011

The Insatiable series combines two of my favorite things... Meg Cabot and vampires.  I'm not sure what it is about vampires... There's something so exciting about a super powerful guy desperately in love with an unlikely girl.  Anyways.  Meg Cabot has fun with her vampires, and in Overbite, they get a bit more evil than in Insatiable.

TEASER: "But when he actually saw Meena Harper emerge from a taxi in front of the Freewell, New Jersey, Police Department... he realized that all the worst-case scenarios he'd been imagining came nowhere close to the horror of this one:  

There was a pink scarf tied around her throat." p. 48

Insatiable (Book 1, see my review here) introduces us to Meena Harper, resident of NYC with psychic powers.  Meena has the gift to know how people are going to die- this sounds like an awesome power, but it's actually kind of creepy to other people.  Meena is determined to use her gift for good even though it causes some uncomfortable conversations.  She's doing okay until she finds a new boyfriend, Lucien, who happens to be a vampire.  Not just a vampire, but the actual prince of darkness, as in the son of Satan.  (Note: this is still a fun book, even if you don't like horror or super dark books, you would probably still enjoy it.  The evil is played down and the drama is played up.)

Overbite starts with Meena working for the Palatine, happily living with her brother Jon in a secret location... Lucien is in hiding, but Meena tries to remain anonymous in the city, just in case.  She still believes that he has good in him, and she is trying to find information from the Vatican to prove that it's possible.  In the meantime, she has bigger problems.  She has had repeating nightmares about her ex-boyfriend, and she asks him to meet her in the city to talk.  She's in the car with him, trying to figure out how to break the news of his impending death, when the unthinkable happens.  A chain of events is set off involving a desperate mission to New Jersey and corruption in unlikely places.  Through it all, Meena is pursued by the charming Palatine guard Alaric Wulf and the brooding vampire prince Lucien Antonescu.

Overbite is fast paced and full of mystery- the ending definitely surprised me, and there were several plot twists that made me audibly gasp, much to the amusement of my family who was riding in the car with me.  Meena's brother Jon is a really fun character.  In this book, he has been hired to work at a church coffee shop, but he still really really wants to work for the Palatine.  He's come up with a new invention called the SuperStaker (I'll let you read the book to find out more) that's super cool... Meg Cabot doesn't take her vampires too seriously, and the SuperStaker is proof of that.  I'd love to see Edward Cullen (*swoon*) fight one off, haha.

Lucien also goes through major character development during this book.  He struggles with choosing between his father's legacy of evil and the good Meena believes he is capable of.  I like that he is a deeply flawed character, and he visibly struggles with evil temptations.

Even with all of this drama and action, the book is written in Meg Cabot's humorous voice, and the reader will enjoy the light hearted bits interspersed with the moments of darkness.

As I said above, the ending was unexpected, and I'm not sure what's going to happen with the series. Is there going to be another book?  I can't find the info online, but if you know, please leave a comment.  EDIT: According to commenter below, this is the last book in the series.  :(  Bummer for me.

Four stars to an excellent sequel with humor, intrigue, and the ultimate triumph of good over evil.

Meg Cabot's website has some fun extras, including links to Palatine publishings and excerpts.

The book trailer is HILARIOUS.

Disclaimer:  I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Interview with Jennifer Rainville, Author of Trance of Insignificance

The author of Trance of Insignificance, Jennifer Rainville, agreed to do an interview with me- here it is!  You can check out my review of the book here.


LPFR: As a debut author, many bloggers may still be unfamiliar with you.  Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself?  I understand that you've had an interesting career path!

JR: First let me say that I’m delighted to have been so warmly welcomed into the book blogosphere! Yes, I’ve taken what some may consider an untraditional path to being an author...I’ve worked in politics at both the state and national level, I was a local TV news reporter in NYC and have served as a media advisor to high-profile figures. However, whether working on political campaigns, in a newsroom or as a consultant - my craft and skill set has always centered around the art of communication. Writing has been the constant in my work, regardless of the field. My unique career experience has not only given me a rich reservoir from which to pull from, but expanded the style and range of my writing...so I wouldn’t change anything about the path that led me to this moment.  

LPFR: Please tell us about your book in one sentence.

JR: A blonde NYC television news reporter has an intoxicating affair with a hunky morning anchor.

LPFR: I mentioned in my review that I found the September 11th part to be passionate and realistic.  If you don't mind sharing, were you working in media during that time?  Did you find it challenging to write about such a powerful event?

JR: The September 11th scene was inspired by my experience while working as a production assistant at WNBC 4, the NBC affiliate in NYC, that day in 2001. I had been on the job only a few days, with no previous experience in a TV newsroom...so, that, combined with the magnitude of the event, made for a powerful day.  It was challenging to write...it was important to me to accurately convey the pace, intensity and mood of a newsroom while covering a story with that much dimension, tragedy and scale. I wanted to pull back the veil on what was really happening behind-the-scenes in NYC newsrooms that day and my experience of actually being there hopefully helped me to portray the scene and the characters in an authentic way. 

LPFR: What is your favorite part of the story?

JR: That’s such a tough question! Every word, every sentence, every scene has meaning for me. I did particularly love writing the chapter when Jules and Jack unexpectedly cross paths at Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles...because the central theme of that exchange is one that I am constantly fascinated by, which is, the interplay between the life that we want and the life we create and often the misalignment between the two. The scene examines the idea of self-sabotage and self-deception...how is it that after so much sacrifice and hard work, just when Jules’s greatest wishes are coming true, she still finds herself stuck in a pattern that is destructive to her well-being? Every moment of our lives is an opportunity for transformation and that moment is a pivotal one for Jules...it clearly triggers something in her. 

LPFR: The ending was a surprise to me.  Did you write the story with the ending in mind, or did the character development lead you there?

JR: The ending was a surprise to me too! Without giving too much away, for those who have yet to read it, I will say that I had a completely different ending when I wrote the first draft of the novel. As I spent more time with the characters and worked through multiple drafts, they helped me write the story...not the other way around. There were many times when the book seemed more real to me than what was happening in my day-to-day life...it may sound strange, but I grew very attached to the characters and loved being immersed in their world, so I went along for the ride with them...and was just as surprised by where they ended up. 

LPFR: You have lived in both Washington, DC, and NYC, just like Jules.  What is your favorite thing about each city?

JR: I truly love both cities. I lived in Washington, D.C. during a very formative seven years of my life, it is where I went to university and and started my professional career and so its impact on me was tremendous. I was fortunate to have been exposed to the highest levels of government, diplomacy and scholarship while living there...being a part of living history is by far my favorite thing about my time there.

New York City has been my home for more than a dozen years and every day it feels brand new. New York City has an energy and magnetism that invites you to dance from the minute you walk out your door. It evolves and unfolds before your eyes and is a magical place to live as a writer...it is my very own fantasy island. Depending on the seasons, I feel drawn to a different little corner of the city...at the moment it is NoLita...I can spend hours there just drinking cappuccino and watching the world unfold. 

LPFR: What made you decide to write and publish your first novel?

JR: I left the news business because I wanted to focus on my writing. Being a full-time writer and author was definitely always a childhood dream...and one, that even after three decades, I wasn’t ready to give up on. For years, I’d jot down notes, ideas and outlines for stories. I didn’t really know what form they would take, but I knew there was something there. The pieces of the novel came together organically...it was the one story that kept coming to me - torrents of dialogue and scenes would hit me, often when I was doing something else, so I knew this was the first story that wanted to be told. 

LPFR: What was the hardest part of the writing/publishing process?

JR: The most challenging part of writing the novel was being patient enough to receive the story. Being a journalist was a great apprenticeship because it gave my writing discipline and focus. But writing fiction is completely different. I had to learn not to force timelines and release myself from external goals, and instead create the circumstances in which the writing would flow naturally.

When it came to getting the book published,  I went the traditional route (with a top literary agency, etc.) for more than two years and became completely fed-up with the lack of progress, arcane pace and quiet frankly the pomposity of it all. Luckily we live in an age when technology has made the traditional ‘gatekeepers’ largely irrelevant. But in a town where image is everything, the hardest part of independently publishing my book was having the courage and humility to do it. Once I got over the fear and released from ego, everything started to fly! 

LPFR: What are you working on now?  Can we expect another book any time soon?

JR: I’m always writing...at the moment I’m dabbling between two genres...fiction and memoir. But I’ve learned that, for me, it is better to keep the exact story a bit of a mystery...it is the only way to be fully present in the world I'm creating. Outside inquiry and examination are the quickest ways to get yanked out. Daniel Day-Lewis has a great quote in the opening of the film Nine, playing the character Guido Contini, based on the amazing filmmaker Federico Fellini, he said “You kill your film several times, mostly by talking about it”...as a creative, these are words to live by. 

Thanks so much to Jennifer Rainville for this interview!

Review of Trance of Insignificance by Jennifer Rainville

Trance of Insignificance

Jennifer Rainville

2011 Debut!

Adult Fiction

226 pages

*Interview with author coming soon!*

I love the symbolism of the cover.
Jules is standing at a street corner, looking at the street signs.
Which way will she go?  Will she follow the directions imposed upon her or find her own way?

Trance of Insignificance tells the story of Jules, a young woman who escaped her dysfunctional life in South Boston for a dynamic career, first in politics in DC, then in television news in New York City.  She is beautiful, strong, and ambitious, but she can't seem to find the right man for her.  This story is told through events in the present, flashbacks to a past relationship, and a few glimpses of her childhood.  The book centers around Jules' attraction to a handsome, powerful news anchor and her struggle to move on when he fails her.  The depth of their passion and the problems that ultimately destroy it are revealed through the story as Jules must decide between this past lover and her new husband, who is everything she ever imagined wanting in a husband.

The main drama of the story is captivating- the challenges that meet Jules and how she deals with them make what could be simply a chick lit romance into a powerful story about perseverance.  In addition to a fast-paced plot, this book also has several story elements that I love: awesome clothes, New York City, a perfect proposal, and an unexpected-yet-authentic ending.  One of the most engaging scenes is near the beginning of the book- it is Jules' first day of working at NEWS 30, and it happens to be September 11th, 2001.  Reading about that day from a media perspective was fascinating.  We all have our stories about where we were when we found out that the towers fell, but I have never considered it from the point of view of the media.  While this story is fiction, it reads like a very personal account, and the author's rich, honest voice made this book a passionate experience for me.

While I initially had trouble keeping up with the changes in dates due to the flashbacks, the flashbacks are used to provide background on the cause of events or feelings in Jules' life.  As soon as I became comfortable with jumping between the couple of time periods/locations, I really enjoyed how the flashbacks added depth to the story.  

Four stars to an excellent debut.  I would recommend this to adult and mature teen readers who enjoy big-city stories about romance and enjoying life.  For more information, check out the author's website and blog here.  

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**

Review of Ghellow Road by T.H. Waters

Ghellow Road

T.H. Waters

Verefor Publishing, 2010

290 pages

Summary of Ghellow Road from 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. This is a story of tragedy and triumph. This is the story of my life."

Initially, I was uncertain about reading this book because it is a little bit outside my comfort zone- I generally read to escape, and reading about pain and struggle is too close to the reading that I do for grad school and the harsh realities I see in my classroom.

However, I found myself genuinely enjoying this book- I didn't want to put it down.  T.H. Waters tells her story in an engaging way with smooth transition, natural dialogue, and an excellent balance between detail and action.  Although her childhood was difficult, she recounts it with candor and weaves the joyful times of her life in with the heartbreak.  The truthfulness of this story is what made me enjoy reading it so much- the plot never seemed contrived or cliche.  Some of my favorite scenes include a birthday trip to a go-kart track, getting to know Theresa's grandfather, and an evening serving at a fancy party where a guest insists that Theresa try an oyster.

If I could change anything about this book, I would want to edit it personally.  I'm a little bit nuts about grammar and spelling, and there were a few instances where I wanted to get out my red pen.  (Not that my mechanics are always perfect- I cringe when I reread my finished work and find a flaw!  The other day I almost turned in a paper about "high students" instead of "high school students.")  This is a very minor concern, obviously, and did not interfere with my reading of the book.

I give this book four stars, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys heartwarming stories of perseverance and appreciating the blessings of life.  I look forward to reading more from T.H. Waters!  The book can be purchased on Amazon- check out the website for more information and a sample of the book.

Disclaimer:  I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review- The Dreamkeepers by Gloria Ladson-Billings

Published in 1994, 2nd ed, 2009

I read this book for my Literacy class, and I can honestly say that I enjoyed it greatly.  The book is an ethnographic study of eight teachers who were respected in the community for being successful teachers of African American children.  Instead of viewing African American children as problems in schools, Dr. Ladson-Billings wants to highlight teachers who are able to bring their students to rise above the status quo and achieve high proficiency.  Major themes of this book are respect, community, and culturally relevant pedagogy.

I rate this book 5 stars and recommend it to anyone who works with children/teens.  I learned a lot and am newly inspired to be a better teacher.

Review- Captive Queen by Alison Weir

Published in 2010  (Thanks to Goodreads and the author for the free copy!)

Summary from Goodreads:

It is the year 1152 and a beautiful woman of thirty, attended by only a small armed escort, is riding like the wind southwards through what is now France, leaving behind her crown, her two young daughters and a shattered marriage to Louis of France, who had been more like a monk than a king, and certainly not much of a lover. This woman is Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine, and her sole purpose now is to return to her vast duchy and marry the man she loves, Henry Plantagenet, a man destined for greatness as King of England. Theirs is a union founded on lust which will create a great empire stretching from the wilds of Scotland to the Pyrenees. It will also create the devil's brood of Plantagenets - including Richard C ur de Lion and King John - and the most notoriously vicious marriage in history. "The Eagle and the Lion" is a novel on the grand scale, an epic subject for Alison Weir. It tells of the making of nations, and of passionate conflicts: between Henry II and Thomas Becket, his closest friend who is murdered in Canterbury Cathedral on his orders; between Eleanor and Henry's formidable mother Matilda; between father and sons, as Henry's children take up arms against him; and finally between Henry and Eleanor herself.


I have kind of mixed feelings about this book.  I won it in a giveaway from Goodreads, and I was shocked to see how long it was.  The ARC I have is 475 pages but the published hardcover book is 336 pages, so somewhere major cutting was done, apparently.  Hopefully it was in the beginning, because the beginning is the reason it took me so long to review this book!  I almost gave up, because the first few pages were like very bad erotica about evil (read: mean, hateful, violent, and red-eyed) people.  I couldn't STAND Henry, whom Eleanor abandoned King Louis the somethingth for.  I could not imagine why she would choose Henry and commit so many (what she believed to be sins) to be with him.  This made the book very hard to engage with.


However, Eleanor really grows as a character, and I totally enjoyed at least the last half of the book.  I certainly never came to like Henry, but I came to love Eleanor and her maid Amaria.  Eleanor was a strong, brave woman who was subjected to the whiles of men.  Her power struggle was portrayed well, as well as how she coped with the infidelity of her husband.


This book is pretty typical historical fiction about England and France, but then again, I'm not a big reader of historical fiction so I can't really give you more comparison than that.  I did enjoy it, and I would like to see a published copy to see what was changed in the finished book.  I would probably have completely enjoyed this book had it been shorter, but from what I have seen I give it 4 stars.  I probably will never re-read it, but I am glad that I did.  I learned a lot about history and it was fun to immerse myself in the world of kings and queens for awhile.


Give it a shot if it sounds interesting- I'm glad that I did!

Review- The Jewel of St. Petersburg by Kate Furnivall

Copyright 2010

This is the most beautiful book that I have read in a long time.  I loved it- and I was surprised to find that this book is a prequel to two other books about Valentina's daughter, Lydia, in China.  I kind of wish that I had read the other two books first, in the order that they were written, but my library does not have them.

The Jewel of St. Petersburg is set in Russia during the revolution.  The  story spans approximately 10 years, so a lot happens.  The characters, even and especially the supporting characters, are richly developed and you can sympathize with even the antagonists.

Although this book is full of beautiful, luxurious descriptions, there are also heartbreaking, disgusting pieces, which probably perfectly reflects Russia during this time.

This IS a star-crossed lovers book, which you can tell from reading the back cover, but it's a lot more than that.  How can Valentina balance her desire for love with her duty to her family?  Is love the only thing she needs?  What about power?  I wish that I had been able to use quotes from this book during my diversity class- it deals with gender/sex issues well.  Here's a passage that I particularly appreciated:

"...Take this advice from an old campaigner.  Use your weapons."
"Weapons?"
"The greatest of all, my dear.  Your beauty."
"Do you know what the strongest weapon is?" she asked him in the pitch darkness.  "One I will never possess."
"What's that?"
"Being born a man."
He chuckled, low in his throat.  She sensed him nodding acknowledgment that she was right.

One warning- don't read the sneak peek of the next book, The Russian Concubine, unless you plan on reading it immediately.  It quickly undoes all of the tied up ends of the book and might make you a little bit crazy.

5 stars- this is an excellent and engaging piece of historical fiction.

Review- Recipes for a Beautiful Life by Keye and Hall

By Julie Keye and Madaline Hall (thanks for the review copy!)
Copyright 2009

If you need a gift for a Christian woman, this is absolutely perfect.  The first section of the book is full of beautiful pictures with scripture verses. The pictures are high quality and include landscapes, animals, plants/flowers, and people.  The people represented are a variety of ages and races.  The Bible verses are encouraging and well-chosen to compliment the photos.  The second half of the book has easy home spa recipes and tips.  I haven't had a chance to make any yet, but I am definitely going to try one of the bath recipes this week- I love chamomile tea, but I never thought about adding it directly to the tub for a relaxing soak!  There are plenty of recipes for masks and soaks, and they include information about which skin type(s) they would be appropriate for.

Like I said, if you need a gift for your Pastor's wife, a secret angel, or your child's Sunday School teacher, this would be a great choice.  The book's website is here.  The website has some excerpts and free skin care recipes as well!

Four stars for this relaxing read.

Review- The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

by Stieg Larsson
Translation Copyright 2008

Wow.  This book is definitely epic.  Summary from Goodreads:  Mikael Blomkvist, a once-respected financial journalist, watches his professional life rapidly crumble around him. Prospects appear bleak until an unexpected (and unsettling) offer to resurrect his name is extended by an old-school titan of Swedish industry. The catch--and there's always a catch--is that Blomkvist must first spend a year researching a mysterious disappearance that has remained unsolved for nearly four decades. With few other options, he accepts and enlists the help of investigator Lisbeth Salander, a misunderstood genius with a cache of authority issues. Little is as it seems in Larsson's novel, but there is at least one constant: you really don't want to mess with the girl with the dragon tattoo.


I almost gave up on this book- the first 50 pages were really hard to get through- lots of setting up of the plot.  However, all of a sudden, things became very interesting.  Lisbeth Salander is an amazing heroine- if you dislike Bella for being mushy, you'll LOVE Lisbeth.  The mystery of Harriet Vanger's murder is also addicting.  At that point, I could hardly put the book down, and since it's 600+ pages long, I neglected a lot of things such as my schoolwork and my blog and SLEEP to keep reading.  The ending was a great twist-  even better than I expected.  However, it is very gruesome-  there are graphic descriptions of violent crimes.


Bottom line- definitely give this book a shot.  I'm going to give it 5 stars- the writing is stellar, the mystery is captivating, and the characters are unique and engaging.  I also liked the occasional PSA about violence against women.'


Question though- If you have read this book, what did you think about the gruesome violence in this book?  Was it necessary?  Did it make the book better?  I'm still thinking about these questions.

Review- Reaching Out by Francisco Jimenez

Published in 2008
Sequel to The Circuit (1) and Breaking Through (2)

Last fall, my senior year of college, I had to take a Latin American Studies course to fulfill my graduation requirements, so I chose US Hispanic Authors.  The first book in this "trilogy" (all of them stand alone, but they are autobiographical, so a trilogy for chronology's sake), The Circuit was required reading.  These books are all about the author's coming of age, and they begin with his illegal trip in to the US across the border from Mexico.  Not only is he now an illegal immigrant in fear of deportation, but he and his family speak no English, and they find work as migrant workers.

Francisco Jimenez is now an author obviously, so these stories are a success tale.  There are many sad things that happen, and I cried often, but most importantly these stories are an inspiration for poor children, for Mexican immigrants, and for people who are trying to learn English.  These books inspired me, as a teacher, and gave me insight into what children in these circumstances might be going through. I recommend all three of these books to anyone considering a career working with people (teacher, psychologist, social services, etc.)  They really changed my life.

To add to their value, these books are very well written, short but meaty, and can be broken into short stories.  These would be appropriate to read to students as short stories.  As you can tell, I'm totally crazy about these books.

5 stars for all three of them. READ THEM.

LIBRARY ADDICTION CONFESSION TIME!

Like many of you out there, I have way too many TBR books to actually read.  It's becoming embarrassing.  I'm a full time student teacher also taking 6-10 hours of night/Saturday classes depending on the week, and I teach youth at my church and tutor to make ends meet.  Yet somehow I thought it was a great idea to not only BUY a bunch of books, but to check out the following from the library:

Current Library Stack

OH WAIT- but I just checked and two books have come in for me!

Now, I could try to renew most of these, but then other people won't have access to them.  Also, I want to finish Mockingjay as soon as possible both so I can know what happens and so other people can read it!  

Does anyone else have an irrational hoarding behavior with regard to library books?