Book Beginnings ~ The Story by Maraniss

Oh Happy Thursday! Got a UPS delivery that made me wanna shout with joy to the world! My order arrived from Amazon containing two hardback books that I know I want to keep in my library. Am I unfaithful to my Nook Reader? No, we can all get along. So, I have started Barack Obama The Story by David Maraniss. I love reading Maraniss, a historian whose writing reminds me of James Michener--another favorite. No detail is left unturned---uh, kind of like a stone. oh well. So I am beginning with The Story and citing it below for "Book Beginnings on Friday" hosted at www.rosecityreader.com

"Please join me every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name."


"On Thanksgiving morning in 1926, the Dunhams set out from their home in Topeka, traveling down U.S. Route 75 on a forty-five-mile ride through autumn countryside. Five people were in the car: the parents, Ralph and Ruth Armour Dunham; their two young sons, Ralph Jr. and Stanley; and Ralph Sr.'s brother, Earl, who worked with him at an auto garage."


And me, the reader is in the car also, wondering how this forty-five-mile trip is going to lead me into President Obama's life story. And, thus far, the ride is fascinating. 

Saturday Snap ~ Glass Sculpture

This magnificent sculpture hangs in the Visitors Center at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Artist Dale Chihuly created it with 928 blue and clear glass spirals and goose neck shapes. It weighs 2300 pounds and is six-feet wide and 20+ feet in length. It is absolutely spectacular to view with the light glinting off the glass shapes. For more information visit http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/media/fact-pages/ridgway-visitor-center.aspx 

To participate in the Saturday Snapshot, post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post at http://athomewithbooks.net/2012/06/saturday-snapshot-june-23/

Saturday Snapshot ~ Lantern Festival

This magnificent dragon greeted us at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis when my DH and I went to see the Lantern Moon Festival. We rode the tram through the gardens enjoying grand, colorful  displays.

To participate in the Saturday Snapshot post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post at  http://athomewithbooks.net/2012/06/saturday-snapshot-june-16/

Yarn Along ~ Shiprock Bears

Our church is gathering supplies for the Covenant Education Center day care/elementary serving infants through fifth grade children in Shiprock, NM, in the Four Corners area. I decided to use some stash to make little bears for the children. The pattern is clever, quick, and simple! Sign me up! I can make a pile of these to send although I only have a pile of three at the moment.

As I created a little eight-row leg on six stitches, I read The Book Lover by Mary McFadden, an enchanting story about two "bookie" women and their lives. The author and the independent book seller cross paths and the book flows wonderfully from there. A major storyline is the demise of small bookstores and the perils in pursuit of becoming a published author. It intertwines in beautiful settings and is a delightful read.

Meanwhile, on the crochet front, after you've made two legs, crochet across both and, wham!, you're working on the body. OK?  Stay with me here. The remainder is made in one piece by increasing for arms, decreasing back, doing the head and so on.


To finish, you fold the little creature in half, sew or crochet around, leaving an open space for stuffing. Turn the bear inside-out, stuff, and close. Add a tightly tied bow to define the head and embroider the face. Finish in about two hours.

 Since I want these to be machine washable, I am stuffing them with yarn. My neighbor brought a couple bags of very old, questionable yarn in a variety of types and colors. Her sister in Chicago gave the yarn to her after collecting it from garage sales. So, you get the idea. I'm glad to be able to use it as stuffing in making these little bears for the children. The free pattern is "Becky's Bear" at http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/beckysbear.html

It's Wednesday! What are you reading? What are you knitting?

Join in at Yarn Along and let us all know!

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Teaser Tuesday ~ The Seduction of Water

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!     http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/

:::::::

"I notice Hedda's lifted eyebrow and realize I've just let her know that I've had contact with Aidan, but I go on nonetheless. I have a feeling she's the last person who'd go to the police right now."
---from The Seduction of Water by Carol Goodman

 
This book is such a good story with interesting bits from several genres that add to the complexity of the plot as well as to the pleasure of reading.

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Saturday Snap ~ A Mountain Greenery

 This little building sets near a landscaping business southeast of Steamboat Springs. Isn't it an inviting, fairy-like abode? Note the plants on the roof. I spent the week in Steamboat with my sons and their families and felt a bit sad about all of us going our separate ways. This vision cheered me.

To participate in the Saturday Snapshot post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post at  http://athomewithbooks.net/2012/06/saturday-snapshot-june-9/

From The Book Lover by Maryanne McFadden

http://www.rosecityreader.com/
"...share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires...."

:::::::

"She slipped out of bed while her husband slept, careful not to wake him. She'd hidden the letter in a stack of coupons and circulars in the basket on the counter, where she knew David would never look." 

---From The Book Lover by Maryann McFadden

My initial impression was curiosity about this marriage because of the wife's sneaky behavior. This is not a novel about marriage, but about the book world. I am reading slowly so that I can thoroughly enjoy this story of books and two "bookie" women.



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http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2012/05/friday-56_17.html

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.

" She got up and went to the bathroom, her legs trembling so badly that her feet danced on the cold tile floor as she sat...."

---From The Book Lover by Maryann McFadden

 

Secondary ~ Booking Through Thursday

https://btt2.wordpress.com/2012/06/07/secondly/#comment-25266

Favorite secondary characters? (Note the plural) Click the image to link to the responses.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Among my faves is Louise Penny's "cast" of characters in her Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series:

• artists, Clara and Peter
•  Reine Marie Gamache
• inspector, Jean-Guy Beauvoir

are but a few of the secondary, engaging characters who inhabit the environs of Three Pines, a quaint Canadian village. Penny writes deeply psychological portraits of the featured characters in each book. Humor coexists with fear as secrets are revealed and a murder is, ever so cleverly, resolved.



DIY ~ Booking Through Thursday

  This week's question is "If you could write a book, what would it be about, and why?"

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I would write about my Nonna, my maternal grandmother from Italy, who was spirited, cheerful, funny, and could lay down the law to anyone. Nonna loved to sing and dance, to argue, to play cards, to cook, cook, cook. She baked bread every week and forced a loaf upon anyone who came to her door. A fabulous-fabulous cook who narrated as she added some basil, considered the temperature of the sugo, made her own pasta, maintained large gardens for berries, for herbs, for veggies and beds of flowers.

While my mother was ill in the hospital, it fell to me to take Nonna to a care facility because Alzheimer's Disease had left her helpless. I lived on the other side of the country and flew back to see what I could do for them. I was not emotionally strong. It was heart-breaking. We got through it, yet the scars are fresh all these years later. Sweet, funny Nonna.

She was a force and remains a force in my life all these many years later. She loved me and I never-ever doubted it.

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Michael Palmer's THE FIRST PATIENT

The First Patient by Michael Palmer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I finished an excellent book this week, The First Patient by Michael Palmer. First of all, Palmer tells a story in an absorbing way that keeps me turning the pages---even when I am sleepy!

Have you read Palmer's medical thrillers? I am very selective because I do not read extremely violent, blood and guts books. Books stay with me for so long after I've finished reading that I easily can become an emotional wreck!! That said, though I skimmed some descriptions, there really aren't many scenes of that ilk.

The story revolves around the decision of a physician in Wyoming to become the temporary personal care-giver to his ol' college pal, the President of the U. S. Then, wow, what a fast-moving, captivating tale!

Now that I've read it, I'm giving this book to my doctor who is a Palmer fan for obvious reasons, but hasn't read this one.

Can I just say that I recommend this book to anyone who is ready for a good solid story filled with surprises?   


View all my reviews

The Darlings by Cristina Alger

The Darlings: A Novel by Cristina Alger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is good story telling that pretty much parallels the news stories of the Madoff scam and its repercussions. The web of people entangled in the enormous Ponzi scheme, often quite innocently, is shocking and complex. It's a wonder that the entire enterprise held together for so long amidst double sets of information, the SEC, off shore bank accounts,and bribes. So many players! The toll it takes on the people directly and tangentially involved is the stuff of this book. The author adds humanity to the players in the story of greed and arrogance.
If you're interested in a fictional account of these recent events, this may be the book for you.

View all my reviews

From The First Patient

"...share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires...."



From The First Patient by Michael Palmer:

"The rotors of Marine One slowed, then stopped. Dust clouds billowed into the still air. Minutes later, a second, identical helicopter landed twenty yard away."

The adventure begins. The President is landing somewhere for a reason we are soon to discover as we delve into another of Michael Palmer's engaging stories of the medical world near the seat of power. Must get back to my book!

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Rules:*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.

From The First Patient by Michael Palmer, page 56:

" 'Fine. The Lincoln Bedroom is right down the hall if you want to rest there,' Carol said."

Have a happy weekend of reading!

Death in the Orchid Garden ~ Ann Ripley

Death in the Orchid Garden by Ann Ripley
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

The opening description of swimming in the man-made lagoon at the hotel in all of its exotic beauty lured me right into the story. However, the extreme detail continued throughout the book, vivid descriptions of place and clothing and people. Way too much detail for this reader. It was a safari through the palm fronds to find the story.
The violence seemed to move this story out of the cozy genre into gruesome territory albeit with azure water and lush plant life.

Sad to say, I am disappointed in this outing with Ann Ripley.

View all my reviews

Teaser Tuesday ~ The First Patient

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/

From The First Patient by Michael Palmer:
"The mid-morning appearance of a Secret Service agent at the Ambrose Regional Medical Center had given Gabe warning that the presidential drop-in was going to take place, but the man hadn't been specific about the time and, following an exhausting all-nighter caring for two patients in the ICU, even a visitor of this magnitude couldn't keep Gabe from his customary ride out into the desert and back."


"The President laughed out loud. "I love it. This here's my trusty dog, Simile. He's tough as a Tennessee hickory nut, but gentle as baby powder. Carol will think that's very funny, too, especially since, unlike her husband, she's actually likely to know the difference between a simile and a metaphor...."

Meet Me on Monday #67

1. For Mother's Day I heard from my children and spent the day with my DH who treats me wonderfully. He gave me an enormous begonia hanging basket and made dinner for me.

2. What is your favorite dish that your Mom makes? My mother made banana cake with chocolate frosting for my birthdays.

3. Who are you a "Mom" too? A daughter and two sons. Also have seven grands, five boys and two girls.

4. What did you have for Mother's Day dinner?  DH prepared New York strip steaks, mashed potatoes, and fresh asparagus. Delicious.

5. What is your fondest memory of your Mom?  Her hugging me, particularly during her last days.

Lounging

Lailah enjoys the recliner, the one piece of furniture she's allowed to enjoy! She doesn't look too happy about having her picture taken. She's my five-year-old Boxer and my constant companion.

"To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post at http://athomewithbooks.net/ It can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you."

Frilly Crochet Squares

I'm still working my way through stash left-overs. I like the look of this square so I decided to make it in two colors with white as the constant color. It will be a baby blanket or throw or afghan. I'll know when I finish. I am joining the squares into strips and have placed them beside each other to decide on the final placement.

The white is Plymouth Encore. The colors are Plymouth Encore, I Love This Yarn, and a few assorted others here and there. I'm using a size H hook and worsted weight yarn.

I'm joining Wonder Why and Plum's Life . Go visit them to see more projects.

In Too Deep by Jayne Ann Krentz

In Too Deep by Jayne Ann Krentz
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

In reading my first paranormal novel, I found an engaging story line featuring Isabela Valdez seeking a safe place to live in Scargill Cove. Powers and talents and fogs draw the reader into the world of nexus energy. Populated with cleverly drawn characters, the story moves with energy and mystery.

There is a certain silliness to it all as parallels to the real world have with clever descriptions and adaptations for this genre. I found myself smiling as I came across "para-" words: parapsychology, paraweapons, parahypnotist. When the protagonist shouted "Oh crap!" I expected her to say "paracrap".

However,there are a couple of glitches for me. Although this author has written many books,this story could have been more skillfully rendered in the hands of a more able author. The plot line is advanced all too often through dialog. So it seems like a character speaks with explain, explain, explain. Then another character fine tunes with a bit more explanation. Someone poses a question and explanation ensues via dialog. It was quite distracting because the dialog seemed too contrived.

I skipped through the sex scenes though some readers enjoy that bit of detail. So, maybe one sex scene, but layering gratuitous repetition seems unnecessary.

Overall, it was a good story, heavy on drama and romance.

View all my reviews



From In Too Deep by Jayne Ann Krentz:

"In the end, one cabin stood out as the obvious choice. Certainty whispered through him....Although he was 99.2 per cent sure of his calculation, there was a small but very possible chance that he was wrong."

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• Share the title & author.

Meet Me on Monday

"Every Sunday Never Growing Old will post five get to know you questions that you can copy and paste into your own Monday post and we can all learn a little more about each and every one of us!!"

Questions:

1. I wish that I could see my grands more often---all seven of them.

2. If you could witness any event past, present or future, what would it be?  My parents' wedding.

3. Do you like to cook? Sometimes yes, sometimes not so much.

4. What do you like to do to get exercise?  The kind where my knees don't hurt when I do it.

5. How tidy are you? Very. I am naturally organized and uncomfortable amidst clutter.