Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs (Alpha & Omega Series, Book 2)

Cry Wolf unlocked the doors to a unique urban landscape in "a great... new werewolf series." Now Patricia Briggs invites readers to follow her even deeper into that seductive realm of the unknown...

Anna Latham didn't know how complicated life could be until she became a werewolf. And until she was mated to Charles Cornick, the son--and enforcer--of Bran, the leader of the North American werewolves, she didn't know how dangerous it could be, either...

Anna and Charles have just been enlisted to attend a summit to present Bran's controversial proposition: that the wolves should finally reveal themselves to humans. But the most feared Alpha in Europe is dead set against the plan--and it seems like someone else might be, too. When Anna is attacked by vampires using pack magic, the kind of power only werewolves should be able to draw on, Charles and Anna must combine their talents to hunt down whoever is behind it all--or risk losing everything...

Quote taken from the Back Cover.

For a year I have been waiting for the new Patricia Briggs' novel. At the beginning of the year, I read Bone Crossed, the fourth book in the Mercedes Thompson series. Normally that would be all from her for the year. Now, though, we have the Alpha & Omega series. The series starts with a novella in the On the Prowl anthology and then is followed up by the first novel, Cry Wolf. With this newest book I think I am pretty much as in love with this series as I am with the Mercedes Thompson series.

This series centers around Anna Latham and her husband, Charles Cornick. Charles has been mentioned off and on during the Mercedes Thompson series because his brother is Sam, who lives with Mercy, and his father is the Marrock. In this series, though, Briggs has the opportunity to develop his character. Anna is a new character that Charles has only known for about a month. While Charles, Sam, and Bran have been doing some crossing over, though, Briggs has said that she doubts Mercy and Anna will ever appear in each others books. I really don't care, though, because it means that we get two books a year instead of just one. Mind you, it is about 6 months until the new Mercedes Thompson book and another year before the next Alpha & Omega, but it could be worse!

In this book we see a lot of Charles and Anna. The story switches back and forth between their point of view, with a few other characters thrown in for variety. Charles has had a bad feeling about the summit and argues with his father until he sees reason and does not attend. This means that Charles and Anna are left with the task of convincing the other werewolf packs that the plan to reveal themselves is a good one. Things are a lot more complicated than that, though. One thing I really like about this series is that werewolves will always play a strong role, but Briggs also works in vampires and the fey. With Mercy, each of the books in the series has so far centred around one paranormal group. In this series, she seems to just concentrate on the werewolves and works the other groups in as she goes along. It adds some variety between the two series.

There is a lot going on in this book. It was nice to get to know Anna and Charles better. They are both very interesting characters. Charles has never been married before, even though he is in his two-hundreds, so he has a lot to learn. Anna is a very young werewolf and an Omega, so she has a lot of things to discover as well. I think they are doing very well learning them together. Their relationship is also really new, so they are still in the 'getting to know each other' stage. Charles is often worried that he has ruined things with Anna, but I think she is there for the long-term. She is still haunted by her past, though, which makes her vulnerable at times. Then, she does something amazing and reminds everyone just how strong she is. Briggs has done a wonderful job with her storyline.

In conclusion, I am very happy that I read this book, but now I have to wait six months for anything more! The good thing is that Briggs is my comfort read, so this new book came at a perfect time. I hope others will give her a chance because she is a wonderful author that everyone should read!

This book is my first read for the R.I.P. IV Challenge.

R.I.P. IV

Okay, I am really slacking this week. Normally I am on the ball with this challenge and have my post up right away, but I am not really in a blogging mood. I considered taking a hiatus, but I can't. I refuse to vanish off the blogosphere during the R.I.P. challenge. It's my fourth year doing it and I have never missed one of Carl's challenges before. I am not about to start now! (You can feel special if you want, Carl.) Anyways, I am doing Peril the First, of course. The object is to "Read Four books of any length, from any subgenre of scary stories that you choose."

The subgenres are:
Mystery.
Suspense.
Thriller.
Dark Fantasy.
Gothic.
Horror.
Supernatural.

As always, here is my potential pool:
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters by Gordon Dahlquist
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Some Colleen Gleason
Some Rachel Caine Morganville Vampires
Four and Twenty Blackbirds by Cherie Priest
Witch Ember by John Lawson
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell – Susan Clarke
The Observations – Jane Harris
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies – Seth Grahame Smith
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson
The Angel's Game - Carlos Luis Zafon
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
In the Woods by Tana French
Faerie Tale by Raymond Feist


You know, really I never follow my pool... So, it is sort of a waste to post one! I really prefer to read entirely by whim. So, we will see what happens, I guess. The pool I did posted, I got from copying and pasting from other pools... I own them all, so it works!

What I have read:
1. Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs
2. Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
3. Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse by Kaleb Nation

Music Munday - Broadway Plays - A Guest Post

Hi! I’m Rachel and I have been reading Kailana’s blog for about three years now. I confess to being an irregular blogger at my book blog site: a fair substitue for heaven but I try to keep my other book site www.thinkinggirlsguide.blogspot.com updated.

I wanted to take this Music Monday moment to speak to you about a subject near and dear to mine heart: BROADWAY!

I am lucky enough to live in Toronto---where I see Broadway shows regularly. But, I have been luckier still to have seen shows on the Great White Way in New York and even in the West End in London--- You can never go too far for a great show--- and a great voice!

As much as I like to sing and study Broadway, I mostly like to watch and savour it; especially when it is performed by some of the leading Broadway female vocalists:

For your viewing ( and mostly hearing ) enjoyment:

This first video is a little different as it portrays the part of a journey which happens before the lights and glamour: the audition.

Here, a very young ( and purely talented ) Lea Salonga is auditioning for the show which will catapult her into stardom: Miss Saigon.

Seen here with Claude Michel Schonberg ( of Les Miserables fame), Lea Salonga is being taught a song cold ( but not before she sneaks in an autograph request)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy-A-wyzj7c

After auditions and call-backs and all the messy paperwork and the rehearsals, come the bright lights.

My favourite Broadway shows are based on books! ( of course)

Here is Marin Mazzie in fabulous voice as Guinevere in the classic Camelot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7rjgfY9_mU&feature=PlayList&p=0A2266B6B8AD5B13&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=21

I was lucky enough to see Marin Mazzie star alongside Audra McDonald in the first production of Ragtime (another classic book told in musical form). Audra McDonald’s performance remains the best I have ever seen ( or heard) from a female live. The video here proves just why the Julliard- trained McDonald is said to be the brightest talent on Broadway since Judy Garland ( make sure you watch to the end--- where she belts it …. )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYE-gSTwB20

Audra shows a melange of classical and gospel roots--- which I love. She puts an indelible stamp on every song she performs!

Remember the Rosie O’ Donnell Show? I loved how it always featured B’Way performances! I found this song performed from one of my favourite literary musicals The Scarlet Pimpernel. Here, Christine Andreas is trying her best to caress each word in the pitch perfect French accent of the tempting lead character, Marguerite St. Juste. Marguerite and her brother Armand are awaiting execution at the guillotine: unaware that the Pimernel will rescue them. (Note: Broadway fans will recognize a very young Sutton Foster in a chorus role--- before she went on to win a Tony for Thoroughly Modern Millie)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBkR6FLUT1k

I was fortunate enough to be in a production of Jekyll and Hyde and to play Emma, Henry Jekyll’s long-suffering love. Though I loved most of the challenging soprano part, my favourite song to sing in the show was this duet. Here, performed to perfection by the astounding Christiane Noll.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbWcEeYiSC8

I want that song at my wedding!…and I want her dress.

Sunday Book Coveting - Patricia Briggs Author Love

The problem with me and a bad or depressed mood is that I always want to buy books so I feel better. For this reason I must not think too hard about books that I want, because then I will surely buy books. Take today for example. I received an email on Friday saying my books from Amazon had shipped. The problem is that the new Patricia Briggs was not listed as part of the shipment... And, of course the bookstore here has it. So, you know I am very very tempted to run to the bookstore and get a copy today. At the same time, I really shouldn't rush. According to online bookstores, the new Mercedes Thompson book has already been pushed back to March instead of its normal February release. So, if I read this new book really fast than I have a long wait ahead of me for the next one. Patricia Briggs is very much my comfort author, so she would be right what I needed about now. You would think in between releases I would read her other books that are residing on my TBR pile. This is why the library is very bad on my TBR pile.

So, what are Patricia Briggs other books?
Her very first book is called Masques, but while her other older books are being rereleased, this one has not. She says on her website that it is going to be, but she is not sure when.

Then, there is Steal the Dragon. Set in the same world, it can be read alone. I have had this book in my hands so many times at the bookstore. I really think I should just bite the bullet and get a copy next time I see it.

It's the same story with When Demons Walk. I even had the new cover preordered, but now I can't remember why I didn't buy it in the end... Getting these two books are very much on my priority list.

I read The Hob's Bargain last year and really liked it. This is why I have to read her other books because she is a really good author!

Then, there is Dragon Bones and Dragon Blood. I read Dragon Bones an embarassing long time ago, but still have not read the sequel. Will have to make that a priority!

Her other duology is Raven's Shadow and Raven's Strike. Both are on my TBR pile. I have picked the first book up a couple times to read it, but something else was always calling my attention away.

The Mercedes Thompson Series is as follows:
Moon Called
Blood Bound
Iron Kissed
Bone Crossed
Silver Borne (forth-coming)

The Alpha & Omega Series is as follows:
Alpha and Omega found in the On the Prowl anthology
Cry Wolf
Hunting Ground

Then, there are two more short stories. Star of David is related to the Mercedes Thompson series and is found in the anthology Wolfsbane and MistleToe. I am not big on anthologies, so I actually found out that the library has this one. Even though it is Christmas, I have it on hold right now. The other anthology is Strange Brew. It is related to the Alpha & Omega Series. I might buy this one... Chances are I will buy the Christmas one, too, because I am a bit of a completist when it comes to certain authors, but I will probably wait until Christmas.

Lastly, there is the Mercedes Thompson series of Graphic Novels. It used to be listed on Amazon and I had it on my wish list, but now it is gone... I hope to get a copy as soon as I figure out how to do so! I am very excited!

So, as you can see, with just one author I can have a lot of coveting going on... Even still, I really want to go get the new book...

Haunted by Kelley Armstrong (Women of the Otherworld Series)

THE CONTINUING ADVENTURES OF THE SMART, SEXY — SUPERNATURAL — WOMEN OF THE OTHERWORLD

Eve Levine — half-demon, black witch and devoted mother — has been dead for three years. She has a great house, an interesting love life and can’t be killed again — which comes in handy when you’ve made as many enemies as Eve. Yes, the afterlife isn’t too bad — all she needs to do is find a way to communicate with her daughter, Savannah, and she’ll be happy.

But fate — or more exactly, the Fates — have other plans. Eve owes them a favor, and they’ve just called it in. An evil spirit called the Nix has escaped from hell. She feeds on chaos and death, and is very good at persuading people to kill for her. The Fates want Eve to hunt her down before she does any more damage, but the Nix is a dangerous enemy — previous hunters have been driven insane in the process. As if that’s not problem enough, the only way to stop her is with an angel’s sword. And Eve is no angel. . . .

So, after I read Living with the Dead, one of the more recent books in the series, I backtracked to read one of the older books in the series. This book is about Eve. We meet her for the first time in Dime Store Magic. Her daughter is now being raised by Paige, who is my least favourite character in this series. This means that I was pretty sure I was going to have to put up with Paige during the course of this book, but it wasn't as bad as I was expecting it to be. Eve is obsessed with watching out for her daughter, Savannah. She checks up on her daily, even if she is unable to communicate with her. The only problem she has with being dead is that she cannot speak to her daughter, which she thinks is the thing she wants above anything else. Little does she know, her life in the underworld is about to get a whole bunch more interesting.

Apparently in Industrial Magic, which I haven't read yet, the Fates do a favour for Eve. This means that she owes them a favour in return at a later date. This book is when they decide call in their favour. Apparently security in the underworld isn't as secure as people would hope and an evil Nix has escaped. Apparently, this is not a recent thing, but the people that were sent to catch her before were not succesful in bringing her back in. Eve is apparently their last hope. And, wow, does Eve have some times ahead of her. The Nix is crazy. She inhabits people with violent thoughts and then gives them the final push they need to go through with their plans. She has left a lot of death and destruction in her path. The people she inhabits also very rarely get away with what they set out to do, she there have been a lot of arrests, too. This is what the Nix lives off of, though, and this is what Eve has got herself into.

Coupled with an intriguing cast of characters, Eve really delivers in this novel. You really get to know her well, and she gets to know herself. Her guide through this disaster is an angel that I think was inserted for comedic value. He is pretty useless by not being there when Eve needs him and you can't help but laugh at him several times throughout the book. There is also her love interest. He is Savannah's father, but he doesn't feel the need to check up on her nearly as much as her mother does. He just loves Eve and wants them to be together, but Eve isn't thinking about that at the moment. Especially when her involvement with the Nix brings trouble for Savannah and Eve is powerless to do anything about it. The Nix has figured out how she can bring destruction with her without having to take over a body. She will do anything to get that power, and she only has Eve to stop her.

Another really good addition to the series. I don't think I will have any trouble reading the last two in time for the new release the end of September.

The Series:
Bitten
Stolen
Dime Store Magic
Industrial Magic
Haunted
Broken
No Humans Involved
Personal Demon
Living with the Dead
Men of the Otherworld
Frostbitten - Forthcoming

The Truth Comes Out

Okay... I wasn't going to blog about this because other than stupid stories that really mean nothing, I don't really talk about my personal life on my blog anymore. The thing is... what I am about to tell you is what is on my mind lately, and it is making it really hard to blog. I was going to write a review, and maybe I will schedule one for later, but for now... Me and the charming comedian broke-up. It's been almost 2 weeks now. That means we were not together for the really nice post I wrote about him on Monday... I'm not going to get into details because, really, I am still trying to figure things out myself.

That's all for now.

Guest Blogging

So, today I was interviewed at Lost in Books. I answered 20 book-related questions. To read my answers, head on over to Rebecca's blog.

I am also guest blogging at Aarti's BookLust for Rosie's Riveters. To read the post, click here.

Living with the Dead by Kelley Armstrong (Women of the Otherworld Series)

The men and women of the Otherworld – witches, werewolves, demons, vampires – live unseen among us. Only now a reckless killer has torn down the wall, trapping one very human woman in the supernatural crossfire.

Robyn moved to LA after her husband died to try to put some distance between herself and the life they had together. And the challenges of her job as the PR consultant to a Paris Hilton wannabe are pretty distracting. But then her celebutante is gunned down in a night club, and Robyn is suddenly the prime suspect. The two people most determined to clear her are her old friend, the half-demon tabloid reporter Hope Adams, and a homicide detective with an uncanny affinity for the dead.

Soon Robyn finds herself in the heart of a world she never even knew existed – and which she was safer knowing nothing about . . .

It is not even good to consider how out of order I am reading this series. This is book nine, but I am actually not finished reading two of the older books in the series. It all happened because I really did not like Dime Store Magic because Paige DROVE me crazy! So, I was hesitant about reading Industrial Magic, so I skipped way ahead to No Humans Involved. It has just been a jumbled reading order since then. After I finished this book, I read Haunted. That would be book 5 in the series. Yes, I have quite the reading system.

So, this is a story that centres around Hope Adams. She is actually a pretty interesting character. She does not drive me crazy and she has quite the boyfriend! Karl Marsten has been mentioned in the books before, though, don't ask me where because trying to remember which book is which is complicated when you can't read the books in order like a 'normal' person. I also just recently read the short story 'Chaotic' where Hope and Karl meet for the first time. My thought process for that was why on earth would Armstrong include what, to me, is an important part of the series in a short story? Not good marketing because I very rarely have any interest in the rest of the short stories in an anthology, so it takes me forever to buy them.

Getting back on topic. Thank god for Hope because Robyn, her best friend and another main character in the novel, has a real knack for getting herself into severe trouble. She makes one bad choice after another in this book and then, the next thing she knows, she is a murder suspect. We also know more than she does about what is going on, so maybe I wasn't as sympathetic as I should be, but she does seem to make the wrong decision every time. Mind you, if Robyn wasn't in trouble; than Karl and Hope would not have to save her. It also turns out to be a lot more complicated than that, of course. For those that don't know. Hope is a half-demon and Karl is a werewolf. It's quite the match-up. Hope feeds off chaos vibes and Karl's life is chaos. It makes it hard for her to always do what needs to be done because she gets caught up in what is going on around her. She is learning, though, but at the same time her powers are getting stronger. Hope is one of my favourite Women of the Otherworld characters, though, so I always look forward to learning more about her.

I probably should also mention the necromancer. He is a police officer who sees the ghosts of the victims he is sent to investigate (sometimes). It means that people think he is crazy because he looks like he is walking around talking to himself. Add in the fact that he has somehow ended up with a parter that is a ghost, and it makes for an interesting sequence of events. The ghost turns out to be important to the story, but for a while I think he is just there for comedic relief. This really was another great edition to the Women of the Otherworld series. Armstrong sure knows what she is doing and pulls all the different characters off well. Plus, each book tends to focus on one female parnormal character, so while it is a series it is really different everytime. My plan is to be caught up in this series by the end of September when the new book is released. Wish me luck!

On another note... I am really not a huge fan of the covers for this series. They just seem very provactive for a series about strong, female characters. Maybe that is the point, but they just seem like romance novel covers to me.

My thanks to Random House for a copy of this book! Click here to read an excerpt.

Forests of the Heart by Charles de Lint

In the Old Country, they called them the Gentry: ancient spirits of the land, magical, amoral, and dangerous. When the Irish emigrated to North America, some of the Gentry followed only to find that the New World already had spirits of its own, the manitou. Now generations have passed, but the Gentry still wander homeless on the city streets. Gathering in the shadows, they bide their time and dream of power. As their dreams grow harder, darker, fiercer, so do the Gentry themselvesappearing, to those with the sight to see them, as hard and dangerous men, invariably dressed in black. Bettina can see them. Part Indian, part Mexican, she was raised to understand the spirit world. Now she lives in wintry Kellygnow, an artists colony a world away from the Southwestern desert of her youth. Outside her nighttime window, she often spies the dark men, squatting in the snow, smoking, brooding, waiting. She calls them los lobos, the wolves, and stays clear of themuntil the night one follows her to the woods, and takes her hand Once again, Charles de Lint weaves the mythic traditions of many cultures into a seamless cloth, bringing folklore, music, and unforgettable characters to life on modern city streets.

I am embarrassed to admit that I forget about Charles de Lint. I have books by him on my TBR pile and keep my ears open for new releases, but then I forget to tell people that I love him and everyone should read him. How can I forget to do that? I mean, really, everyone should love him and read him. It is as easy as that. Now, I would not suggest reading him in quite the manner that I read him. I apparently have no idea on the order of things and have read this series very out of order. This book is part of the Newford series. It's not a series in a conventional sense, though, because each book technically can stand alone, but there are things at play in the background that you will miss if you haven't read the books in their correct order. Having not read any of the series in the correct order yet, I leave you to figure that out on your own!

I will read high fantasy, as I am sure you have noticed if you read my blog, but once in a while it is really nice to read a plausible fantasy novel. Now, that is not to say that fantasy novels are necessarily farfetched, but if they are high fantasy they are normally set in alternate realities or something along those lines. There is urban fantasy and paranormal fantasy if you want something slightly believable in fantasy, but I am not about to get overly excited about the idea that I could be involved in a zombie invasion. I prefer to leave that in the books. With de Lint's writing, though, bad things do happen... It's just not the same as a crazy werewolf. The stories are based in a lot of folklore and mythology. This one in particular had a lot of native and Irish beliefs mixed into it. That might sound like a strange combination, but de Lint pulled it off. I think I got off-topic somewhere along the lines. I was going to say that I liked Newford because I can picture myself there. Who is to say that what the characters in his books live is not happening around us right now? Those that know are not saying, and those that disbelief are generally the ones that it is not happening to, right? Think about it. I like to, anyways!

The only other adult novel that I have read in this series is The Onion Girl. It is technically later in the series, so I went backwards with this one. Characters are similar between the two, though, so you get a taste of what they were like before they became the characters in the later novel. If you read the books in the right order, though, you will get to The Onion Girl and will add on to what you learned earlier in the series. This is how you read a series. I still need some practice. The way that de Lint chose to write this book, there is not necessarily a main character. Some might argue that it is Bettina, but I think that there are several main characters in the book. The chapters are told from different points of view; which is something I really like about de Lint's novels. He always pulls it off seamlessly!

I have talked a lot in general, but I should probably get around to talking about the book itself. There is a great blend of everything in this book. There is adventure, action, danger, romance, villains, heroines, heroes, disbelievers, believers, double-crossers, musicians, artists, revenge, and so much more. Bettina has been drawn to Newford for a reason that she cannot figure out. Gifted with the ability to heal, it is this skill that will be drawn on eventually. Her grandmother raised her to believe in a world 'outside' our own, but when her grandmother walked out into the desert during a thunderstorm and never returned she stopped practicing what she was taught. She has essentially lost herself and is slowly on the path to reclaiming herself. A little romance thrown into the mix probably doesn't hurt anything, either. During the course of her self-discovery she meets a whole new group of people that will become part of her story.

My favourite character was probably Ellie. She is a sculptor whose friends believe in a fairy tale land, but she is a disbeliever. It turns out, though, that she is not all that she appears. There is a great deal of magic in her that will become very essential to the events of the novel. One of her closest friends will make some difficult decisions that have serious reprucussions and she will find herself caught up in the middle of them. My other favourite character was Miki. She works in a music store, but she is also a gifted musician. She is a bit of free-spirit. You cannot help by love her by the time the book is over. There is also her boss, Hunter, who gets caught up in all of this quite accidentally. It turns out that being a nice guy does not always work out so well for you! (Well, it seems that way, anyways.) Add in the Creek sisters and Tommy and you have a fantastic cast of characters. I didn't hate any of them. There is also Bettina's wolf, but we are not really sure what to make of him for most of the novel. He gets some blood pumping, though.

Then, there are the forces of evil. In this case they are the Gentry. We meet them very early in the book, but we don't really get to know what they are until a lot of pages have gone by. They are interesting characters, but I couldn't help thinking of Lord of the Rings. It really makes no sense, but that's okay. It makes sense in my mind! They bring with them even more characters, though, but I don't really want to spoil too much of the novel. Really, there is just so many people and things going on that it is really hard to talk about everything. It's actually a very complex book when you think about it. By the end of it, you have really got to know the characters. I liked that. It doesn't take away from the story, either, which is nice. It was a really good story!

So, overall this was another great de Lint novel. I liked The Onion Girl better, but not by a lot. I look forward to more de Lint in the future. (I am going back and starting from the beginning!) On another note, don't the covers to de Lint's books look fantastic? He has a great cover artist!

Music Munday - My Musical Education (Thanks to the charming comedian)

I have to admit, I am not a huge music person. Sure, I listen to music and I have my favourites, but books are my thing. I pay attention to the written world and tend to forget about the rest of it. The charming comedian is a music person, though. It is impossible to hang around with him and not be influenced by it. So, I figured since I started doing these Music Munday posts so that he could have a part in my blog, I would make this weeks post about the bands that I listen to because of the time I spent with him.

One of the bands I listen to now I can actually remember how it came about. Last spring we decided that we were going to go on a scenic drive to Peggy's Cove. We took my car and we were winding down some back country roads. The cc had lent me some CDs to listen to months before, but I just had not got around to it. So, he is sitting there and he starts digging around in the pile and he pops a CD in. He doesn't have it up very loud, but it is enough for background noise. I had no idea what I was listening to, but he had lead me to believe that it was a 'popular' band, so I didn't want to admit I was that stupid. I actually did admit that I wasn't very fond of whatever I was listening to, but I didn't turn it off. The thing with me and CDs in my car, though, is that I am really bad about switching them. So, days later I was still driving around listening to this random CD. The thing is that I actually started paying attention to it and I discovered that I really liked it! It turns out it was Rush, who I had heard of before but never really listened to. Now, I am like a Rush fangirl. I have read Neil Peart's memoirs and own several CDs and DVDs of live concerts. Turns out it is a good thing that I take forever to change CDs in my car! (The cc would not agree.)

I would consider Rush to be the biggest influence he has had on my music. My favourite song by them is 'Freewill'.


One thing I strongly remember is Bryan Adams. I am still not a huge Bryan Adams fan, but he has his 'Best of' CD. Anyway, he was either outside BBQing or he was just getting home from work and I was cranking 'Summer of '69' and dancing around the living room. He walked in and caught me. I don't dance, so you can imagine how embarrassed I was. He laughed. I made a stupid comment and he said something along the lines of me having seen him do worse. This is probably true!

You can watch the video here. (Of Bryan Adams dancing around... Not me! I am sure you are very disappointed!)

As to him, his favourite Bryan Adams song is "When You're Gone" because he really likes Mel C. She does have a really good voice, but I can only think of her as a Spice Girl...


Moving on. Another 'mystery' CD in that pile he lent me was Collective Soul's greatest hits CD. I guess I knew who they were, but I had never really listened to them before... Judging by how much I loved Rush, I decided that it was time to listen to Collective Soul. I now consider 'Precious Declaration' to be one of my favourite songs ever. I like other songs by them, too, but nothing compares to this song!


Such a great song!

The very first CD that he ever lent me was the Beatles Love CD. I love the Beatles, but just had never got around to listening to it. See, he knew me well right from the start! I kept that CD forever. Eventually he made me make myself a copy so he could have his CD back. I suppose that is a sensible request, huh? Someone has put the CD on YouTube in parts. That's very time-consuming, wouldn't you say? Anyway, the video below it the first section and then you can find the rest from there.


Okay, another funny story! You know what? I own Money for Nothing by The Dire Straits. I had no idea that I did. Did you know that I also love The Dire Straits? Good, me either! I have no idea where the CD came from, but when it got played in my car one day it did sound very familar. At some point and time I had very good taste in music... Anyways, I now listen to the CD very religiously. I just had it in my car player the other day... And only took it out because my friend gave me something that they wanted me to listen to! My favourite song is probably "Romeo and Juliet". But, this version of 'Brothers in Arms' really appealed to me, so I am going to post that instead. I really like the song, anyway. I just can't remember if it is on the 'Best of..' CD.


There are many other bands that I could talk about, but I will just limit it to one more. The Powder Blues Band. They play them on the radio sometimes and the cc would always say that he really needed to get their CD. I would always think that I should get him the CD as a gift, but then I would entirely forget the name of the band. Anyways, I finally remembered to buy it for him for his birthday and I got to listen to it in its entirety. They are a really good band! My favourite song by them is 'What've I Been Drinkin' '. The cc sang it for me one night at karaoke and I was probably the only person that knew what the song was, but I was excited! (He probably only sang it because he is tired of singing 'Cold as Ice'.) I can't show you, though. The cc's favourite is 'Sweet Little Girl'. We apparently do not like their popular songs, so I will have to just show you what is considered one of their more popular songs.


So, that is just some of the music that the cc has introduced to me since I met him. It's quite different from what I used to listen to, anyway! I will conclue with 'Cold as Ice' by Foreigner. The cc sings this song at karaoke and before I even really knew him I LOVED when he sang it! I call it 'my' song and he always says, no, it is Foreigner's song. But, you see, when the cc sings it, it is my song. (No offense to the band, but the cc does this song better...)


Anyway, I feel weird saying this, but my thanks to the charming comedian for influencing my music! (Not the thanks, but calling him the cc in that context. I don't exactly do that normally!) Years from now, no matter what happens, there will be lots of songs that will play on the radio and will make me think of him. We will not think too hard on whether that is a good thing or a bad thing... If it becomes bad I will just remember the broken stool incident or go-go dancing on the coffee table. Ah... memories... (I am so glad he doesn't blog! lol)

Sunday Book Coveting -This and That

Just the other day I completed Forests of the Heart by Charles de Lint. Finishing it reminded me just how much I enjoyed The Onion Girl and the world of Newford. This means that I have been investigating further into the series and what I should read next. I have yet to read it in order, but it would be nice to try and get some idea of the backstory. This means I should read Dreams Underfoot. The library doesn't have it, so I am going to have to buy it at some point and time before carrying on with the series.

Welcome to Newford. . . . Welcome to the music clubs, the waterfront, the alleyways where ancient myths and magic spill into the modern world. Come meet Jilly, painting wonders in the rough city streets; and Geordie, playing fiddle while he dreams of a ghost; and the Angel of Grasso Street gathering the fey and the wild and the poor and the lost. Gemmins live in abandoned cars and skells traverse the tunnels below, while mermaids swim in the grey harbor waters and fill the cold night with their song. Like Mark Helprin's A Winter's Tale and John Crowley's Little, Big, Dreams Underfoot is a must-read book not only for fans of urban fantasy but for all who seek magic in everyday life.

Charles de Lint himself says that is the book to start with, so I will be taking his advice next time I allow myself to buy books! Must support our Canadian fantasy authors, right?

In the meantime, I am just excited about the fall. I am trying to not look around too much more because there are just so many books coming out already that I want to read!

In about a week, the new Patricia Briggs will be coming out! For some reason I was thinking it was further away, but it is August! I have it pre-ordered.

Then, a few days later Sea Glass is out. The sequel to Storm Glass by Maria Snyder. I love Snyder (most famous for Poison Study, Magic Study, and Fire Study.) This trilogy is a companion trilogy with a few crossover characters.

First, though, will be the new Fables. It is out on August 18! I cannot wait to see what happens next!

Lastly, there is of course Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, which will be out on September 1st, and then in October we have the release of Fire by Kristin Cashore.

It's hard to believe it is time for the fall releases all ready! This means that the summer is almost over... I am excited about my books, though. My credit card might not be so happy, but we will ignore that.

Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett (Tiffany Aching Trilogy, Book 1)

Yay for another buddy review! This time with Stephanie from Stephanie's Confessions of a Book-a-holic. While I have read a couple Pratchett's in the past (this is my third this year, actually) we are still really Pratchett newbies. It is fun to begin to discover his backlog and to do it with someone else!

A wonderful new novel from the Carnegie Medal winner. A riotous, wise, and gripping junior Discworld novel.

Up on the chalk downs known as The Wold, witches are banned — ever since the Baron’s son vanished in the woods. Anyway, as all witches know, chalk is no good for magic.

Nine-year-old Tiffany Aching thinks her Granny Aching — a wise shepherd — might have been a witch, but now Granny Aching is dead and it’s up to Tiffany to work it all out when strange things begin happening. There’s a fairy-tale monster in the stream, a headless horseman and, strangest of all, the tiny blue men in kilts, the Wee Free Men, who have come looking for the new “hag”. These are the Nac Mac Feegles, the pictsies, who like nothing better than thievin’, fightin’ and drinkin’. When Tiffany’s young brother goes missing, Tiffany and the Wee Free Men must join forces to save him from the Queen of the Fairies.

What was your impression of Granny Aching? She wasn't quite the warm, cuddly grandma we are used to. Did you like her character?
No, warm and cuddly are not words that I would use to describe Granny Aching, but she was a fantastic character! Tiffany thought that her grandmother was a witch, but who can really say for sure. All we do know is that she was not like the other women in the novel. She was very independant and a woman who the entire village feared and respected. She knew her sheep, though. That was her occupation. With her chewing tobacco and big clunky shoes, she was a force to be reckoned with. Even now that she is deceased she lives on, which is great. I really enjoyed her, actually. She is probably a character that will stick with me for a long time because she was so vibrant and alive, which is funny because she is supposed to be dead in the book. Who said grandmothers had to be warm and cuddly. Her personality seemed to work for her because her grand-daughter has never forgot her.

Who was your favorite of the minor characters? Why? (The secondary characters here seemed to add so much to the story)
There is a probably with library books. You don't have them nearby to check characters names. After some searching around the internet, though, I found who I was thinking of. His name is No'-As-Big-As-Medium-Sized-Jock-But-Bigger-than-Wee-Jock Jock. Everytime this guy would talk, Pratchett would include his entire name. It made me smile every single time! It is no wonder that I couldn't remember the correct wording of it, though. Even if I had read it several times, it is not exactly something that will stick in your memory. He is one of the Nac Mac Feegle's, who I think really made the book. They were funny and you never knew what they were going to be up to next. It made for very entertaining reading!

What is your favorite scene? Why? Will you continue on with this trilogy and series? There were so many great scenes in this book, I must say. From the very beginning when Tiffany meets a monster in the pond to the very end; the book sticks with you overall. I actually think one of my favourite scenes is when Tiffany hits the monster she meets in the pond over the head with a frying pan. She was very practical about it. Another scene that was great is when we meet Miss Tick for the first time. She is not exactly your stereotypical witch, and for the first little bit you think she is talking to herself. She is a bit scatter-brained and she is late to the big adventure, but I look forward to seeing more of her in the rest of the trilogy. Then, there are the scenes with the Nac Mac Feegles. There is so much good stuff when they enter the scene that it is hard to pick one favourite. They are funny when they try to steal a sheep, when they get into fights, when they drink, and I really enjoyed any mention of the one that flies around on a bird from place to place. He made some interesting landings! It was especially great what he does when Tiffany suggests a safer method for a landing. Overall, you could almost say the book is just one great scene. It never really drags and it is genuinely entertaining all the way through.

NPR's 100 Best Beach Books Ever

I needed something 'uncomplicated' to talk about, and Bonnie posted this list and bolded the ones that she has read. I decided to see how many I have read.

1. The Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling (I didn't read all of them)
2. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee - On my TBR
3. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
4. Bridget Jones's Diary, by Helen Fielding
5. Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen
6. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, by Rebecca Wells
7. The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
8. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
9. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, by Fannie Flagg - On my TBR
10. The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver - On my TBR
11. The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger
12. Life of Pi, by Yann Martel - On my TBR
13. The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan - On my TBR
14. The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien
15. The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
16. Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell - On my TBR
17. Bel Canto, by Ann Patchett - On my TBR
18. The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien
19. Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides
20. Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen
21. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
22. The Bean Trees, by Barbara Kingsolver
23. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, by Alexander McCall Smith
24. The World According to Garp, by John Irving
25. Catch-22, by Joseph Heller
26. The Prince of Tides, by Pat Conroy
27. Like Water for Chocolate, by Laura Esquivel
28. The Princess Bride, by William Goldman
29. The Accidental Tourist, by Anne Tyler
30. Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer
31. A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole
32. East of Eden, by John Steinbeck - On my TBR
33. The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant
34. Beach Music, by Pat Conroy
35. One Hundred Years of Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
36. Rebecca, by Daphne Du Maurier - On my TBR
37. Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card
38. Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry
39. The Thorn Birds, by Colleen McCullough - On my TBR
40. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, by Michael Chabon - On my TBR
41. Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett- On my TBR
42. Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy - On my TBR
43. Interview with the Vampire, by Anne Rice
44. Cold Mountain, by Charles Frazier
45. Empire Falls, by Richard Russo - On my TBR
46. Under the Tuscan Sun, by Frances Mayes
47. The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas
48. Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, by Tom Robbins
49. I Know This Much Is True, by Wally Lamb
50. Murder on the Orient Express, by Agatha Christie
51. Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott
52. The Stand, by Stephen King
53. She's Come Undone, by Wally Lamb
54. Dune, by Frank Herbert - On my TBR
55. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
56. Love in the Time of Cholera, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez - On my TBR
57. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll
58. Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov
59. The Godfather, by Mario Puzo
60. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith
61. Animal Dreams, by Barbara Kingsolver - On my TBR
62. Jaws, by Peter Benchley
63. Good in Bed, by Jennifer Weiner
64. Angle of Repose, by Wallace Stegner
65. Snow Falling on Cedars, by David Guterson
66. The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway
67. The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand
68. Breakfast of Champions, by Kurt Vonnegut
69. Cat's Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut
70. The Big Sleep, by Raymond Chandler
71. The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway
72. The Hunt for Red October, by Tom Clancy
73. Cold Sassy Tree, by Olive Ann Burns
74. The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
74. Bonfire of the Vanities, by Tom Wolfe [tie]
76. Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte - On my TBR
77. Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon
78. The Shell Seekers, by Rosamunde Pilcher
79. Prodigal Summer, by Barbara Kingsolver - On my TBR
80. Eye of the Needle, by Ken Follett
81. Cannery Row, by John Steinbeck
82. The Pilot's Wife, by Anita Shreve [tie]
83. All the Pretty Horses, by Cormac McCarthy - On My TBR
84. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson - On my TBR
85. The Little Prince, by Antoine De Saint-Exupery
86. The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
87. One for the Money, by Janet Evanovich
88. Shogun, by James Clavell
89. Dracula, by Bram Stoker
90. The Unbearable Lightness of Being, by Milan Kundera
91. Presumed Innocent, by Scott Turow
92. Franny and Zooey, by J.D. Salinger
93. The Secret History, by Donna Tartt - On my TBR
94. Dead Until Dark, by Charlaine Harris
95. Summer Sisters, by Judy Blume
96. The Shining, by Stephen King
97. How Stella Got Her Groove Back, by Terry McMillan
98. Lamb, by Christopher Moore
99. Sick Puppy, by Carl Hiaasen
100. Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson

So, I have read 40 out of 100. If you look at how many are unread on my TBR pile, though, I could almost have read all 100. *ahem*

Books Walked in My Door

I am having a retail therapy week, so I bought books...

I got:
Dramacon: Ultimate Edition by Svetlana Chmakova - Yes, I bought the 3-in-1 just because the library doesn't have the third one and I really want to read it.
Devil's Brood by Sharon Kay Penman - I don't even want to admit how little I have read of her...
The Devil's Queen by Jeanne Kalogridis
Order in Chaos by Jack Whyte - I have the first two in hardcover, so wanted the third one in hardcover, too. Have I read the first two? NOPE!

Then, with book credit I got:
Saint City Sinners by Lilith Saintcrow... Even though it is book 4 and I haven't read the first 3
In the Woods by Tana French - Not my read, but I was curious
Bluebeard's Egg by Margaret Atwood - Curiousity
Dry by Augusten Burroughs - I have been meaning to read him forever
The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks - Only because it was free
Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb - One day I will read this series again
The Scar by China Mieville - Because I want to read this trilogy
Lord John and the Hand of Devils by Diana Gabaldon - Only because I had credit
Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier - I have enjoyed her other stuff
Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade by Gabaldon - Only because I had credit
Oranges are not the only fruit by Jeanette Winterson - Heard good things about this
A Student of Weather by Elizabeth Hay - Liked what I have read by her
Clearing in the West by Nellie McClung - Always wanted to read this. I love Nellie McClung
Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones - What are the odds of getting the first book in a series at a second hand store? I also have this out from the library, which means I can bring it back and make the TBR pile one less smaller.

Did it make me feel better? I don't know... I don't think so. I have to find room on my shelf for everything and I am still sad. It normally does work, though, so I am disappointed it failed. Back to not buying books until October.

Fire by Kristin Cashore

She is the last of her kind...

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her.

Exquisitely romantic, this companion to the highly praised Graceling has an entirely new cast of characters, save for one person who plays a pivotal role in both books. You don't need to have read Graceling to love Fire. But if you haven't, you'll be dying to read it next.

Okay, all I can say is that I love Kristin Cashore. This series is likely my favourite series of the year. When I got a chance to read an advanced reading copy of Fire I jumped at the chance. I have it pre-ordered, too. I think everyone needs to read this series. I originally read Graceling through the library, but I have since bought a copy. Anyway, this is another wonderful buddy review with the wonderful Heather. I asked the questions and they are pretty basic, but since you have to wait a bit longer until the book comes out... it should be enough to add to your anticipation, but at the same time not give too much away.

Which book did you like better? Are you looking forward to book three?
Such an easy question, but such a hard answer. I really liked both books. While they are part of a series, they are actually not direct sequels. Fire is the prequel, but far enough back that it is more like companion books. If I had to choose a favourite, I would have to go with Graceling, I suppose. I loved it from the very first page, but Fire took me a few pages to get caught up in it. It probably wasn't the books fault, though, it was more worry that Fire wouldn't live up to Graceling and I really wanted it to. So, really, I liked both books about the same. I think it was a lot about the story. I loved the characters and the events that were played out. Everything was believable and exactly what I needed to keep turning the page. I didn't really find she suffered from being a new writer. She is pretty seasoned and reminds me a lot of Maria Snyder, who we all know I love! (Right?) Am I looking forward to book three? OF COURSE! It's forever away, though, (next year) and I want it now!

Which was the better heroine, in your opinion, Katsa or Fire?
In the beginning, I would have to say Katsa. She is such a badass and powerful female character that I cannot help loving. You see her skills from the very first and I really appreciated that Cashore was writing such an empowering character in a period where apparently main characters can be weak and spineless and still be loved beyond belief. I like a character that is human, but at the same time reaches for her potential. She doesn't settle for the hand that is dealt to her, but tries to rise above it. She can also like a guy without becoming insanely obsessed over him. That drives me crazy when the romance gets to be everything. Anyway, Fire was also very awesome, but I had to get used to her at first. Cashore is really good at writing her female leads. If I was a teenager reading them I would want to be like both of them. Actually, as an adult I want to be like both of them, so you can see the potential. Both women rock. That's all I can say.

What about the guy? Did you like Po better or Brigan?
You know, these questions are not very easy. So far I have pretty much just said both. When I was reading this question, though, Po jumped into my mind automatically. I think I feel like I know Po better. Cashore spent more time on him and we saw what things were like for him. I really felt for him. That being said... If I had a literary crush (which I rarely admit to), I think I would pick Brigan. Weird, huh? There was just something about Brigan that really appealed to me. Po was a better developed character and I really liked him, but still, I will have to go for Brigan. Regardless, both of them are younger than me, so not really plausible in the real world (for me, anyway). But, that is not really the question, is it? I really liked both of them. They both brought a lot to the story and I think both books would have lacked if they were not included. I liked a lot of the other secondary characters, too, though. It was just a really readable cast of characters.

Fire will be released on October 5th. Buy it!

Music and Memory

Melissa from Book Nut here. Thanks, Kailana for convincing me to do this; I enjoyed writing this!

Memory is a fickle thing. Many people's memories are tied up in sights, or smells, or tastes. Things that bring back vivid pictures of the past. For me, the thing that triggers the most memories is music. I can be driving in the car, listening to the radio, and then a song comes on and a memory -- of a person or place -- hits me so powerfully, I'll have to pull the car over (well, maybe not. But I do get wistful...).

So, for my Music Monday, I thought I'd give you five bits of my memories.


I grew up in a 70s house -- Neil Diamond, The Carpenters, Captain and Tenille, John Denver, Barry Manilow, and, yes, ABBA. I liked them all, but the memory I have of this one is being nine or 10 years old, and singing loudly, with a hairbrush, using the fireplace hearth as my stage. For years, it was my favorite ABBA song, and it all boils down to that one summer afternoon. (Well, it was probably more than one.)


High school biology, talking to my table-mate (don't remember who that was), about how cool this group was (or was that Mr. Mister's Kyrie?), instead of listening to the lesson for the day. Yes, this really dates me.


This one is college -- going to the dance clubs my sophmore and junior year, hanging out with my wacky roommates and their friends playing Tetris until 3 a.m. And -- perhaps espeically -- Ren and Stimpy and Bevis and Butthead. Ah, the early 90s.


Sting's songs have many memories for me: in the bus on the way to a marching band competition (Fortress Around Your Heart); driving around Ann Arbor in my new (to me) car after high school graduation (Fragile); watching him on Saturday Night Life with my husband when we were dating (Love Is Stronger Than Justice). But this particular one is me, 8 and 3/4 months pregnant with my first child (didn't know it was a girl yet), on a hot Virginia July evening, rocking out at a Sting concert. This song had to have gone on for 10 minutes, at least. And yes, those around me did stare.

And because my 16th wedding anniversary is on Thursday:

This one is driving from Spokane to Portland with my husband in his dad's souped-up VW Golf , speeding on the freeway (he drives fast) by the Columbia River. Away from the kids for two days to celebrate our 15th anniversary, staying in a bed and breakfast, enjoying good company, having good conversation and eating good food. And sharing it all with a wonderful man.

There you have it: bits and pieces of my life, in music. How about you? Do you have a song that brings back vivid memories?

Sunday Book Coveting... Auto-Buys

Friday I finished Fire by Kristin Cashore. The review will be following on Tuesday. Anyway, I am in love! I considered Graceling one of my favourite reads so far this year, but you can consider Fire on that list now, too! I read an ARC of the book, but I have to mail it back to its owner. That's okay, though, because I have had Fire pre-ordered for a while now! So, you know that I am not very impatient for book three, right? It's torture that I have to wait until next year sometime! It is tentatively called Bitterblue. I am so looking forward to it!

Obviously, Kristin Cashore is now on my 'auto-buy' list. My list has had a great year, I must say. I discovered Carrie Ryan this year with The Forest of Hands and Teeth, so you know that I will be getting a copy of the companion book as soon as possible next year. I also read Fables for the first time this year and I already have the next two releases pre-ordered.

It makes me think about my other 'auto-buys'. Alice Hoffman and Anita Shreve used to be on that list, but I don't buy them anymore. Some authors have been on my list for a long time: Isabel Allende, Douglas Coupland, David Adams Richards, Carol Shields (now deceased), Madeleine L'Engle (now deceased), etc. When those authors have new books out, I am there! I am big on Canadian authors. I buy Lori Lansens, Mary Lawson, Donna Morrissey, and a few more automatically. They are not as prolific as the ones I mentioned before, but they are really coming into their craft.

Then, there are the authors that I always plan to have on my auto-buy list, but they take a while to come out with a new book. Audrey Niffenegger is an example of that. I consider her first book one of my favourite reads of all time, so I am excited about her new book. My problem is I am really excited about a new book by an author that I love, but then it takes me forever to read them! Wally Lamb and Keith Donohue are two examples. I have their new books sitting on my TBR pile, but I enjoyed their first books so much, maybe I am worried about not enjoying these ones as much? It's different with a series. You buy the book wanting to know what happens next, but with standalone books it is a totally different experience that you are not really sure what to expect. Just because an author is on my auto-buy list doesn't mean I have loved everything that they have written, but I still hate for that to happen. I try to wait until my expectations are a bit low and then read the book. If I read it right away, I am too excited and then it might not live up to it. Does that make sense?

Then, there is my beloved fantasy... Patricia Briggs is a must-read, but she is actually relatively new on my radar. You would never know it considering how much I go on about her. There are a lot of fantasy authors that I buy when they have a new book, but that doesn't mean I am actually caught up with them: Robin Hobb, Terry Goodkind, Jack Whyte, etc. I figure that the books will be there when I am ready for them. It makes me feel better knowing that I have complete sets, I guess. Then, there are trilogies or series that I am caught up in and am impatiently waiting for the new book. Sara Douglass is an example of this. I still have plenty of books by her to read, but I want to read the last book in her most recent trilogy and it is not out until next year! Oh, and publishers, I have the pretty hardcovers of the previous two books and they MATCH, so you better not change the style. That drives me crazy! Take Maria Snyder for example. She is an auto-buy. I have her first two books in matching hardcovers, but then the third book was only released in paperback. So, her new trilogy (so far) matches the last book in her first trilogy, but it doesn't match the first two books. That drives me crazy. You want to change the covers? Great, but wait until there is a matching set first. I am not buying them again because I know that is what you want me to do...

These are just the authors that come to mind. James Rollins is the author I consider my 'guilty pleasure'. He's a bit out of my normal range, but I love his books. I consider Amazonia to be one of my favourite books of all time. Why? I have no idea because he is not the best writer ever and he does romance terrible, but I love him anyway...

So, this is a lot longer than I planned and there are still authors not mentioned that I could mention... I tell you, I don't really buy books anymore. I just buy my auto-buys... Some years, that's actually quite a bit!

How about you? What are your auto-buys? (Because, you know, I totally need more...)

John Hughes Died!

And then, this is a video showcase of many of his famous films.

Last Twenty Reads

I have seen this meme several places, but I decided that after seeing it at Reading Adventures I would do it, too. Here are where my last twenty reads came from:

1. Living with the Dead by Kelley Armstrong (Women of the Otherworld Series) - Publisher
2. Hugh and Bess: A Love Story by Susan Higginbotham - Review Copy
3. Stargazer (Evernight Series, Book 2) by Claudia Grey - Library
4. Twilight of Avalon by Anna Elliott - Author Sent Copy
5. Jellaby: Monster in the City by Kean Soo - Library
6. The Sister by Poppy Adams - Publisher
7. Galore by Michael Crummey - Publisher
8. Powers by Ursula K. Le Guin (The Annals of the Western Shore Trilogy, Book 3) - Library
9. Midnighters: The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld (Book 1) - Library
10.Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett (Tiffany Aching Trilogy, Book 1) - Library
11.The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner (The Thief Series, Book 2) - Library
12.Storm Thief by Chris Wooding - Library
13.Emiko Superstar by Mariko Tamaki & Steve Rolston - Library
14.Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall by Bill Willingham - Bookstore
15.Repossessed by A.M. Jenkins - Library
16.The Morganville Vampires - Book 5 - Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine - Bookstore
17.The Dark Queen Series - Book 5:Twilight of a Queen by Susan Carroll - Publisher
18. Fables - Volume 11: War and Pieces by Bill Willingham - Bookstore
19.Fables - Volume 10: The Good Prince by Bill Willingham - Bookstore
20.Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson - Library

Hugh and Bess: A Love Story by Susan Higginbotham

My review of Hugh and Bess: A Love Story by Susan Higginbotham is up at Historical Tapestry. To read it, click here.

"A delightful novel full of chivalry, romance, and real-life terrors."
Historical Novels Review

Forced to marry Hugh le Despenser, the son and grandson of disgraced traitors, Bess de Montacute, just 13 years old, is appalled at his less-than-desirable past. Meanwhile, Hugh must give up the woman he really loves in order to marry the reluctant Bess. Far apart in age and haunted by the past, can Hugh and Bess somehow make their marriage work?

Just as walls break down and love begins to grow, the merciless plague endangers all whom the couple holds dear, threatening the life and love they have built.

Award-winning author Susan Higginbotham's impeccable research will delight avid historical fiction readers, and her enchanting characters will surely capture every reader's heart. Fans of her first novel, The Traitor's Wife, will be thrilled to find that this story follows the next generation of the Despenser family.

Canadian Challenge Meme

A Canadian Reading Meme brought to you by John from The Book Mine Set. Here are my answers:

Your Favourites:

1. Favourite Canadian author? - This changes regularly. I love L.M. Montgomery, Carol Shields, Douglas Coupland, Lesley Choyce, Thomas King, Lynn Coady, Mary Lawson, and so many more... They are all pretty much auto-buys.

2. Favourite Canadian novel? - Wow, I really don't even know. My favourite for the 2nd Canadian Challenge was Turtle Valley by Gail Anderson-Dargatz. (Not including ones already mentioned for other categories.)

3. Favourite Canadian nonfiction? - Ghost Rider by Neil Peart

4. Favourite Canadian picture book? - Probably something by Munsch. It's been a while since I read any, really

5. Favourite Canadian YA or juvenile chapter book? - Jolted by Arthur Slade, most recently

6. Favourite Canadian science fiction or fantasy book? - Women of the Otherworld Series by Kelley Armstrong

7. Favourite Canadian romantic fiction? - Not a clue. Probably something by Montgomery

8. Favourite Canadian mystery? - Lunenburg by Keith Baker

9. Favourite Canadian graphic novel? - Only read a couple, so not enough to really say

10. Favourite Canadian book blog? - Court, Rachel, Nicola, Teddy, and many more!

11. Favourite Canadian fictional character? - Anne Shirley. Mainly because she came to my mind first.

12. Favourite movie based on a Canadian novel or story? - I don't know.

13. Favourite Canadian short story? - A few by Carol Shields.

14. Favourite Canadian poet? John McCray... yep, that's original

15. Favourite Canadian poem? In Flander's Fields

16. Favourite Canadian play? Good question. I don't even know any off the top of my head.

17. Favourite novel by an established Canadian author? - The Republic of Love by Carol Shields

18. Favourite novel by an up-and-coming Canadian author? The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

19. Favourite Canadian book award? Giller Award for fiction

20. Favourite Canadian publisher? Random House Canada

21. Favourite Canadian humorous book? - The Republic of Nothing by Lesley Choyce or All Families are Psychotic by Douglas Coupland

22. Favourite Canadian newspaper? - I don't even know anymore

23. Favourite Canadian magazine or journal? - Canadian Geographic?

24. Favourite Canadian dystopian novel? - Oryx and Crake by Atwood

25. Favourite Canadian epistolary novel? - I don't remember any that I have read off the top of my head, though I imagine there are lots.

Music Mundays Guest Post

Hello there blog readers! This is Court from Once Upon A Bookshelf, and Kailana's asked me to guest post for today's Music Mundays.

I had SUCH a hard time deciding what to talk about for Music Mundays when I told Kailana I was interested in guest posting here. I have a very eclectic taste in music, so had any number of topics half started until yesterday when I decided to scrap them all and go with something that I had been half-debating about from the beginning: Cole Porter.

Cole Porter was an American composer, born in 1891 and died in 1964. Most of his work was in the form of musicals - Anything Goes, Kiss Me Kate, etc. However! Like a lot of similar composers in those days, his songs also got sung by popular singers of that time: Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, etc etc. His songs became part of what we know today as "The Standards."

I really came across Cole Porter's music through modern-day crooners (like Michael Buble) and jazz musicians (such as Jamie Cullum and Diana Krall). As I found I loved these songs, I explored more of his songs covered by older musicians, and it brought about my love for many of them. It actually brought about my love for the standards in general, so in a way Cole Porter's music introduced me to Tony Bennett and Ella Fitzgerald, two of my more recent loves.

For a bit of a starter to Cole Porter's music, I'm including a video from the 1965 Academy Awards, of Judy Garland doing an awesome Cole Porter tribute, with a medley of a lot of his popular songs. (As a bonus, this tribute is introduced by the amazingly talented Gene Kelly.)


Next, I want to share a video of Jamie Cullum. He does a lot of the standards on his Twentysomething album, an album that somehow sneaked it's way into my Top Five Favourite Albums of All Time without me noticing it until it was already well established there. What I love about Jamie Cullum is the fact that he's a BRILLIANT pianist as well as a singer. Here's a live
version of his cover of I Get A Kick Out of You:



It may be argued that I decided on this topic just for the following video. ;) I am a huge Doctor Who and Torchwood fan, so my little Standards-loving heart skipped a few beats over a DVD extra that featured John Barrowman (aka Captain Jack) singing Anything Goes. This lead to my exploration of his Cole Porter songs. Anything Goes is still my favourite, but I prefer this video of it than the one in the DVD extras (possibly due to his little bit of dancing in it):



Lastly, here's a video of Michale Buble. I've been lucky enough to see him in concert twice, and I definitely recommend it if you ever get the chance. Here's the thing about Buble - he's more than a singer. He's an entertainer. He's absolutely hilarious. This video doesn't quite show his funny side, but it's a wonderful and gorgeous Cole Porter Song. I've Got You (Under My Skin):

Sunday Book Coveting... All the Pretty Completed Books

At the six month mark, I did a post saying my favourites so far, but I didn't post what I read in June. The list is as follows:

Wings by Aprilynne Pike (Wings Series, Book 1)
Shakespeare Wrote for Money by Nick Hornby
Housekeeping vs. Dirt by Nick Hornby
3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares
Just in Case by Meg Rosoff
Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandom Sanderson
Wake by Lisa McMann
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Volume 1 - The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson
What They Always Tell Us by Martin Wilson
Poison by Chris Wooding
Black Duck by Janet Taylor Lisle
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett
The Missing Book One: Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Pretty Monsters by Kelly Link
Babymouse: Our Hero by Jennifer Holm (Book 2)
Blueberry Girl by Neil Gaiman
The Savage by David Almond
Slaughter-House Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson
Moon & Sun: The Ruby Key (Book One) by Holly Lisle
Larklight: A Rousing Tale of Dauntless Pluck in the Farthest Reaches of Space by Philip Reeve
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Silk by Alessandro Baricco
Tom's Midnight Garden by Phippa Pearce
The City in the Lake by Rachel Neumeier
Olivia Kidney by Ellen Potter
Clubbing by Andi Watson
How to Talk About Books You Haven't Read by Pierre Bayard
Wonderous Strange by Lesley Livingston
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Glass by Ellen Hopkins (Crank Trilogy, Book 2)
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
Manga Shakespeare: The Tempest
Manga Shakespeare: Hamlet
Manga Shakespeare: Romeo & Juliet
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Moving on to July.

July was actually a really good reading month. I enjoyed pretty much everything I read! Oh, and I did it, I read 200 books in one year! I used to when I was a kid, but not since, so I have been trying for a few years now... Okay, yes, it is only halfway through the year, but anyway... I am shocked on my own about how much I have read.

BabyMouse: Beach Babe by Jennifer L. Holm (Book 3) - Graphic Novel
Dramacon Volume 1 by Svetlana Chmakova - Manga
Dramacon Volume 2 by Svetlana Chmakova - Manga
Monster by Walter Dean Myers - Printz Project
I Met the Walrus by Jerry Levitan - Non-fiction Five, Canadian Challenge 3
Vacations from Hell by Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Claudia Gray, Maureen Johnson, and Sarah Mlynowski
Debt of Bones by Terry Goodkind - Carry on with the series.
The Blue Notebook by James A. Levine - Pub Challenge 2009
Poe: A Life Cut Short by Peter Ackroyd - Non-fiction Five
The Dream Thief by Shana Abe - Carry on with the trilogy
The Language of the Night: Essays on Fantasy and Science Fiction by Ursula K. Le Guin - Non-fiction Five
The Story Sisters by Alice Hoffman - Pub Challenge 2009
Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger - Printz Challenge
Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin
Among the Mad: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear (Book 6) - Carry on with the series, Pub Challenge 2009
I, Coriander by Sally Gardner
Jellaby by Kean Soo - Canadian Challenge 3
Skim by Mariko & Jillian Tamaki - Canadian Challenge 3
The First Last Part by Angela Johnson - Printz Challenge
If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson
House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne-Jones - Trying to read all of her books
Salamander Dream by Hope Larson - Graphic Novel
Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson
Fables - Volume 10: The Good Prince by Bill Willingham - Graphic Novel, Carry on with Series
Fables - Volume 11: War and Pieces by Bill Willingham - Graphic Novel, Carry on with Series
The Dark Queen Series - Book 5:Twilight of a Queen by Susan Carroll - Carry on with series, Pub Challenge 2009
The Morganville Vampires - Book 5 - Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine - Carry on with series
Repossessed by A.M. Jenkins - Printz Challenge
Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall by Bill Willingham - Graphic Novel, Carry on with Series
Emiko Superstar by Mariko Tamaki & Steve Rolston - Canadian Challenge 3
Storm Thief by Chris Wooding
The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner (The Thief Series, Book 2) - Carry on with Series
Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett (Tiffany Aching Trilogy, Book 1)
Midnighters: The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld (Book 1) - Trying to read all of his books
Powers by Ursula K. Le Guin (The Annals of the Western Shore Trilogy, Book 3) - Carry on with series
Galore by Michael Crummey - Canadian Challenge 3, Pub Challenge 2009
The Sister by Poppy Adams - Pub Challenge 2009 (paperback)
Jellaby: Monster in the City by Kean Soo - Canadian Challenge 3
Twilight of Avalon by Anna Elliott - Arthurian Challenge
Stargazer (Evernight Series, Book 2) by Claudia Grey - Carry on with Series
Hugh and Bess: A Love Story by Susan Higgenbottom

My Top Five Favourite Reads for July were:
Twilight of Avalon by Anna Elliott
Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin
I, Coriander by Sally Gardner
The Dark Queen Series - Book 5:Twilight of a Queen by Susan Carroll

And then, it gets tricky for the fith one. I enjoyed Queen of Attolia, Powers, all the Fables that I read, etc... So, five is a large tie.

Challenge Progress:
Themed Reading Challenge: 5/4 - Completed
Pub Challenge 2009: 9/9 - Completed
Herding Cats: 6/5 - Completed
Arthurian Reading Challenge: 2/3
Non-Fiction Five: 9/5 - Completed
3rd Canadian Reading Challenge: 6/13
Japanese Reading Challenge: 0/3
The Printz Project: 14/47