Blogger Unplugged

Well, Beth, over at Beth Fish Reads has given us a wonderful holiday gift: Permission to unplug from the computer during the upcoming frantic, hectic holiday period.  My husband will attest that annually, sometime during the next week, I will go into emotional melt-down over

• Not having my whole family together for the entire 6 week holiday period
• The tree
• what size
• where do we put it?
• real (we live in Maine for godsakes and have 32 acres of pine trees!!!) or fake (much easier and we don't have to kill one of our babies)
• How many? (we have enough ornaments to do 5 good sized trees)
• The baking
• how much
• what
• The presents
• who to get what for
• online and send directly to out of town? or shop locally and go thru the hassle (it used to be fun!) of wrapping and mailing
• Cards
• Are we going to do them?
• Do an Annual christmas letter (don't people already know enough from the blog and the Facebook accounts?)
• who's doing them?
• Wreaths
• we have 9 windows and 2 doors - and the wreaths look gorgeous in the snow (we've had a white Christmas every year since we've been here) but we have to take the screens down for the full effect and that's a bummer with my arthritis and the cold temps.  Hubbie has enough to do with all the wood chopping, and other chores, but, they look so pretty...........
  
• Finishing my various annual book challenges!  This year except for ARcs waiting review, I'm on track to finish up what I signed up for.  Next year I hope to get a better handle on the ARCs.
• Events - which caroling parties, tree lightings/trimmings, egg nog parties, Advent wreath makings should we attend.  How much energy do we have.

I suspect some of this angst comes from the darkness of the season....it is totally dark here by 4:30PM and the sun (or should I say daylight cause we don't often see Brother Sun) doesn't appear until almost 7:00AM...makes for a short, jampacked day.

Anyway, my darling daughter, (she who works in the information arena) showed me a wonderful add-on for those of us who use Mozilla Firefox as a browser.  It's a little program called Leech-Block, and you can use it to set specific hours when you are allowed (or blocked) from getting onto Blogs, Facebooks, etc....I've downloaded it, but haven't yet had the courage to turn it on.  I know I can get around it by simply using IE as a browser, but I detest IE, and that would be cheating, so if I can't completely unplug, I think I'll try the Leech blocker.

But thank you Beth. I for one welcome the opportunity to unplug and am challenging myself to do so.  Now I just have to figure out when.............................

Sunday Salon

What a delightful Sunday it was....we decided to drive about 2 hours north to see the Bicentennial exhibit "Abraham Lincoln, Self-Made in America" at the Castine Historical Society in Castine Maine.  This is a traveling exhibit featuring reproduction artifacts from the Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield Illinois.  We had both been to the actual Illinois complex many, many years ago but wanted to refresh our memories. What was so special for me however, was the exhibit next door.  The Castine Historical Society is restoring the Noah Brooks library in the Nelson House.  For a book lover, it was a wonderful journey into the past.

Here is a quote from the Bangor Daily News of 11/09/09:

Brooks was a Castine native, born just a few doors away from the Abbott House, the home of the Castine Historical Society, where the exhibit is located. He became friends with Lincoln while he was still in Springfield, Ill., and before he entered politics. Brooks was a newspaper reporter, editor and author who worked in Washington, D.C., and he and Lincoln renewed their friendship after Lincoln became president. He was one of the last people to see the president on April 14, 1865....

Brooks was a welcome visitor to the White House, according to the display at the historical society, and the two met at Lincoln’s office on the afternoon of April 14 to discuss the possibility of Brooks becoming the president’s private secretary. There is some indication that, if not for a bad cold, Brooks might have been with Lincoln at the Ford’s Theatre later that night when Lincoln was fatally shot in the theater.
Although he lived in California for a time, Brooks lived much of his later life in Castine at a home on Main Street. He died in 1903 in California and is buried in the Castine Cemetery beside his wife.

 While I wasn't reading in a salon this Sunday, I was certainly still connecting with books.  Being able to see the role a good library plays in the lives of important people in our heritage is affirming.  And taking a drive through Maine's peninsulas on a crisp, clear, sunny autumn Sunday is downright warm and fuzzy.

Review: The Gods of Newport by John Jakes

John Jakes is a touted master of American historical fiction. He presents stories of various communities and cultures in North America, mixing real and fictitious persons and relying on well done research to set scenes of authentic lifestyles.

Jakes tells the story of a self-made wealthy man, Sam Driver, and his daughter Jenny as they try to break into the very structured and snobby summer society of Newport Rhode Island. The summer set is 'ruled' by grande dames such as the famous Mrs. Astor, Mrs. Vanderbuilt, and others who kowtow to Mrs. A's rules about what is proper, what is forbidden, who is acceptable and who is not.

By introducing a love interest from the wrong class, Prince Molloy, an Irishman who works at the tennis Casino, and who falls for Jenny, we are exposed to life at all levels of society.

As Jenny and Sam try to ingratiate themselves with this group, Prince tries to win Jenny. There are many scenes of violence, back-stabbing, cheating, bribing, whoring, sailing, horse racing, and other instances of life in the late 1800's that paint a clear picture of what Newport was like both for the very rich, and those whose life was to serve the very rich.

NO spoilers, but there is a rather corny ending that will disappoint some, and be enchanting for others. All in all it was a pleasant read. Having lived several years in Newport, (my first apartment was actually on Bellevue Ave!) I found the descriptions of the town and the opulent 'cottages' a wonderful stroll down memory lane

Review: Malice Prepense

I enjoy courtroom dramas--I think even more than basic detective who-dun-its. Barbara Holloway, the defense attorney in Kate Wilhelm's wonderful series, is really beginning to hit her stride in this episode (it's the third in the series) as she builds a defense for the accused-a real estate mogul  whose wife had an affair with the congressman he is accused of murdering. Barbara was at first hired to defend their severely retarded son (a 20something year old who has the mental capacity of an 8 year old.)  When Barbara finds an eyewitness to verify the boy's alibi, the DA turns to the father instead.

There is a marvelous cast of characters: a polyester clad investigator, a bubbly young attorney helping Barbara, , some truly nasty bad guys, the accused's wife and other grown children, and above all, in an almost equal starring role, Frank Holloway- Barbara's widowed father (the senior semi-retired partner in the firm) who happens to be an avid gardener and very talented cook.

To make it all really interesting, the case is being presided over by a judge who seems to have a real prejudice against the defense, and who keeps restricting Barbara's ability to present information she feels is important.

Finally there's the love interest--the mine inspector whom she hired to get some more detail on what the deceased congressman might have been investigating. His scarred face, laconic sense of humor and questionable past might almost be at home in a pulp bodice ripper, but...this guy has great motivation, his character is well developed, and Barbara falls hard. It's a dynamite story with twists, turns, ups, and downs. I thought I had it solved twice, and was wrong both times. This series is a great one, and I hope that the next ones continue to be as good as the earlier ones.

Hidden In Plain View Thursdays: A Christmas Book by Norman Rockwell

Norman Rockwell's Christmas Book

by Norman Rockwell

Welcome to the weekly feature where we use Random.org to pick a book from our library shelves (real or virtual) and bring it out into daylight.  To join in, follow the guidelines posted here.

Be sure to leave us a link to your post so we can compare notes. Unlike previous weeks, we won't ask you to try to pick this one off a shelf--it's been hiding in a credenza where I keep the Christmas goodies.  It will come out later next week to reside on the coffee table next to the bowl of nuts and candies.

This is one of my favorite Christmas books.  It has stories, poems, pictures, music, and many beautiful Rockwell illustrations.  We received it years ago as a gift from my inlaws, and it has been a family treasure since then.  If you can find a copy, grab it.  It will be one book that even non-readers will browse through, over and over again.  And it is one book that does NOT translate to the Kindle or to an audio book.


Do you have favorite seasonal books that you bring out for short periods every year?  Be sure to leave a comment.

Review: Angels, a Pop-up Book by Chuck Fischer

Some people display trains at Christmas, some people build villages, some have hundreds of Santas and elves.  I do Angels.  My late blessed mother-in-law got me started by giving us a set of seven ceramic angels of various sizes and colors and shapes for our first Christmas together.  No matter where we lived as we traveled around the world, those angels came out of their box and we knew it was home, and it was Christmas.  Then several years later, when auntie died (she who left us all her books) we discovered that my m-i-l, (her niece) had given her a set that same year.  So now we have two complete sets.  But in the meantime, I've been collecting angels to add to the scene (they are placed around our creche) from Japan, Hong Kong, Hawaii, Italy, England, Scotland, you name it.

When this ARC arrived today (I was fortunate enought to win it in a giveaway contest) my first thought was that it would make a splendid Christmas gift to our grand-daughter, who also collects angels, but that thought lasted two nanoseconds--only until I opened the first page.  THIS BOOK IS MINE.  It is absolutely breathtaking in concept. I had no choice but to drop everything I was doing and sit down and wallow in its beauty.  The research and descriptions are splendid---they enhance the artwork.
 
Arranged in three sections: "Messengers", "A Hierarchy of Angels", and "Secular Angels," it has something for everyone.  Whether you believe angels are a spiritual reality serving in the celestial family of the deity, or you think they are simply decorative adornments to art works, this book will appeal to you.

The pop-up format adds considerably to its enjoyment bringing a third dimension to the reader's experience.  In addition to gigantic and detailed two page pop-ups,(they can be seen from either side of the book-front and back) there are tiny side "books" (about 3x4) on the sides with additional pictures and text supplementing the visual sensation. It certainly is not a book to be handed to a young toddler, but a youngster who can sit with a parent, or grandparent, or aunt or uncle and respect a book will be as enchanted as the adult doing the reading.  I'll just give you a peek...then you can go get yours and enjoy.  Here's The Archangel Michael. Fischer's artwork is masterful and can only be believed by seeing it in person. This picture will whet your appetite, but it does not do it justice.

December Giveaway: Exit Music by Ian Rankin

Many thanks to Valerie at Hachette Book Group for giving us 5 copies of Ian Rankin's latest (and final???) book in the Inspector Rebus series. Originally published in 2007, this is a mass market reissue - I can't wait to get mine.  I've never read any of the series, and I suspect I'm going to be looking for one of the earlier ones very quickly.

Cover blurb from the publisher:

It's late in the fall in Edinburgh and late in the career of Detective Inspector John Rebus. As he is simply trying to tie up some loose ends before his retirement, a new case lands on his desk: a dissident Russian poet has been murdered in what looks like a mugging gone wrong.
Rebus discovers that an elite delegation of Russian businessmen is in town, looking to expand its interests. And as Rebus's investigation gains ground, someone brutally assaults a local gangster with whom he has a long history.
Has Rebus overstepped his bounds for the last time? Only a few days shy of the end to his long, controversial career, will Rebus even make it that far?

About the Author

Ian Rankin is a #1 international bestselling author. Winner of an Edgar Award and the recipient of a Gold Dagger for fiction and the Chandler-Fulbright Award, he lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, with his wife and their two sons.
Audio and Video

Here's the Rules:

• Deadline: December 18th.
• No PO Boxes, US and Canadian addresses only.
• Leave a separate comment for each item below. Each comment = one entry.
• Be sure your email is in one of your comments. No Email, No entry.

1. Leave a comment saying whether you've read any others in the series.
2. Leave another comment saying you're a follower (new followers are welcome with open arms)
3. Leave another comment if you read Tutu in a blog feeder, or Google reader.
4. Leave another comment (and a link) if you blog about the contest (sidebars OK)

Sorry, I don't do Facebook, Twitter, or any of that other stuff.  These four will get you four chances.

Wednesday Earplugs- the Weekly audios

It's been a few weeks since the last update,  but I haven't been listening as much as I used to.  During our recent road trip, I had over 20 books loaded up on my MP3, but found I was really having trouble finding any that appealed to me.  I had forgotten to transfer the one we really wanted to listen to in the car, and we ended up doing a lot of talking and/or sleeping when it wasn't our turn to drive, so the earphones are just getting resurrected.
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I did manage to finish

An Irish Country Christmas

by Patrick Taylor
narrated by Jack Keating

A thoroughly enjoyable cozy read about two doctors who love their patients, who live in a big rambling house with their surgery in the same building, who are lovingly cared for by one of the most delightful characters- Mrs, Kinky Kincaid- I've met in a long time. Both docs are suffering from unrequited love, which lends some depth to their characters and the story. Not great lit, but a fun read, and it certainly got me in the mood for thinking about the upcoming holidays.  It even gave me a boost to be able to contemplate the holidays without some of my children/grandchildren being able to be physically with us.
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Now here's what I had to abandon:

As I previously said, I put aside The Shadow of the Wind,, but based on a wonderful and lively book discussion with friends in Florida while we sat on the beach eating great seafood in St Augustine, I'm going to try to finish this one.  She said she had the same reaction in the center of the book, but indicated that it was definitely worth finishing.  So I'm going to move that one back to the front burner.

A Family Affair

by Rex Stout
narrated by Michael Prichard

Since we own almost everything Rex Stout ever wrote, I was determined to read at least one Nero Wolfe mystery this year.  Many of my LT friends think these are wonderful books.  So when I saw this on the rack at the local library, I grabbed it, thinking it would be something great to listen to on the trip.  I cannot for the life of me see why anyone wants to listen to, or read about, a pompous overbearing egotist who thinks he is so wonderful that there is a new solar system of which he is the center.  I stand ready to be proven wrong, but this one didn't work for me AT ALL.

Death In a Strange Country

by Donna Leon
narrated by Anna Fields

As most of you know, I really enjoy this series.  The problem with this audio was the narrator.  All the other books I've listened to have had marvelous narrators who read with a decent Italian accent when it was called for.  Ms. Fields slaughtered the perfectly beautiful Italian, and it was too painful to listen to.  This one is still on my list to be read, but my eyes will have to supply the words to my brain on this one.
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I'm currently listening to Malice Prepense, a Barbara Holloway courtroom drama, by Kate Wilhelm.  Like her others in the series, this one is terrific.

Before next week's post, I'll try to finish Shadow in the Wind, but I also have plans to listen toShepherds Abiding by Jan Karon (I know I'll like that one- I read it every year for Christmas), and one of many others that look appealing.  I'll suprise myself (and you my readers) by picking something different.

The Christmas Challenge

Michelle, The True Book Addict has challenged us to read Christmas books during the upcoming holiday season.  The link to the challenge is on her page.  It's quite simple, you have to read 1-3 books (no kiddie lit allowed) about this wonderful holiday.  Then blog about it and link it to her page via Mr. Linky.  Get over there and sign up.  It will give you something fun to do during these next few stress-filled weeks.

I've been doing a Christmas books category for my 999 Challenge on LT. Here are some of the books I've read or plan to read to complete the 9 for that challenge:

A Christmas Beginning by Anne Perry
The Christmas Cookie Club by Anne Pearlman (see my review)
Secrets of a Christmas Box by S. Hornby
The Gift of Murder (An anthology of Christmas mysteries being sold to benefit Toys For Tots)
Murder for Christmas (another anthology edited by Thomas Godfrey)
The Paper Bag Christmas by Kevin Alan Milne
Maigret's Christmas - a collection of nine stories by George Simenon
Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor (see review)
And one of my all time favorites.......Shepherds Abiding by Jan Karon.

So.....have you started yet?  If not, put a log on the fire and forget the wrapping, decorating, baking for awhile each day.  Give yourself a gift....Where's the eggnog?

Road trip : I'll never catch up!

Now that we've arrived home safely, and the check engine light is off (it was on almost the whole way to Florida), we are slowly unpacking, reading mail, logging in all the new books that arrived while we were gone, and trying to relax, and catch up.  My blog feeder may go into shutdown--there are 1098 posts waiting for me.  I refuse to try to read blog posts on a Blackberry, and altho I had my laptop with me, I had very little free time, and used that to do actual reading. I finished 4 books while we were gone and abandoned, set aside, or am otherwise into another 4:

Finished Sarah Graves "Dead Cat Bounce"and The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe, a good chunk of Nancy Atherton's "Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon", The Recipe Club by Andrea Israel, and I was halfway through Banana Yoshimoto's wonderful little tome "Kitchen" when I LOST THE BOOK.  (loud booing, hissing, jeering permitted). I have just sent an email to the friend in whose wonderful sleep inducing guest bed  I slept when it was last 'alive' to see if I lost it deep in the covers. It's a tiny book and easily misplaced. I was really getting into it and was within 2 hours of finishing it. WAH........

I also finished an Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor on audio, decided to set aside A Shadow in the Wind by Carl Ruiz Zafron, but will be picking it back up later this week based on a recommendation from one of the friends we visited in Florida.  Right now I'm listening to Malice Prepense, a Barbara Holloway story by Kate Wilhelm. 

When we got home the mailbox had 4 books on Afghanistan, 3 more on Somalia (all for hubbie's research on his latest book), and ONLY 4 for Tutu--one I never ordered or asked for that was sent unsolicited by the author (not my taste at all-- it will go to the library's book sale), a copy of Triangle of Deception by Haggai Carmon (also sent by the author at my request), A Better War by Lewis Sorley (hubbie and I are both Vietnam vets and were anxious to read this one, so we bought it from Amazon), and Anne Perry's Silent Nights ( a B&N bargain table book I bought while in DC).  It was almost a relief to be able to say ONLY three....It gives me a chance to catch up.  The ones I've finished are reviewed in separate posts (the links will take you there.)  Stay tuned for more Christmas and food fun as I try to finish my second 999 challenge of the year, and catch up on ARCs. 

The photo is of our home on the beach in Mayport Florida where we lived over 25 years ago...It's still there, but now obviously under renovation.  This was taken about 24 hours ahead of Hurricane Ida.

Update 11/16/09: The missing book KITCHEN  has been found, and is being UPS'd up here by one of my bestest friends. Can't wait to finish it.!

Hidden in Plain View Thursdays

Sullivan's Island

by Dorothea Benton Frank

Welcome to the weekly feature where we use Random.org to pick a book from our library shelves (real or virtual) and bring it out into daylight.  To join in, follow the guidelines posted here.

Be sure to leave us a link to your post so we can compare notes.
Can you find this one?  It's not quite in plain view.

I read this one when it came out in paperback, and have read all of her books s  If you enjoy Anne Rivers Siddons, or Pat Conroy, you'll definitely like reading Dorothea Benton Frank's delicious fiction set in the low country of South Carolina.  Sullivan's Island, the first of six  novels in the Low Country series tells a story of one woman's search for truth, after she left an unfaithful husband, and unpleasant life and returned to her childhood roots.

I've read the first two, and I'm looking for more.