Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Goodreads Review
Bury Your Dead by Louise PennyMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Throughly enjoyed this book by Louise Penny. Her character Inspectr Gamache was developed and smooth as a fine single malt scotch or tea. The story finalizes the acts from previous book yet you do not need to read the previous book to enjoy this story. Wrongs are correct, people helped, and are people hurt. Penny does a fine job of character development, locale development and words. For example, Emiles words of wisdon to younger Gamache, words said once in his career never to be repeated. - "I'm sorry. I was wrong. I need help. I don't know."- eloquently stated and utlised! Give this a read and br prepared to escape into Quebec (French/Anglo)in dead winter. Fire, blanket, comfy chair, glass of wine/tea and book just envelope you into the worlds of Gamache.
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Monday, February 14, 2011
Words of Love - Valentine Special
Kahlil Gibran-On Love-1923 - 
When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep,
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.
For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you.
Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.
Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire,
that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.
All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart,
and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.
But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.
Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.
When you love you should not say,
'God is in my heart,' but rather,
'I am in the heart of God.'
And think not you can direct the course of love,
for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night,
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.
Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) was born to a Maronite Catholic family on January 6, 1883 in Besharri, Lebanon.
When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep,
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.
For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you.
Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.
Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire,
that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.
All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart,
and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.
But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.
Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.
When you love you should not say,
'God is in my heart,' but rather,
'I am in the heart of God.'
And think not you can direct the course of love,
for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night,
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.
Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) was born to a Maronite Catholic family on January 6, 1883 in Besharri, Lebanon.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Goodreads Review
What Is the What by Dave EggersMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Solid 4. My soul is burdened after two books of refugees from Africa. What... is a story of the journey of Valentino out of Sudan into refugee camps, wars and pure hell resulting in the nightmare of America refugee isolationism. Well written and memorable.
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Thursday, February 10, 2011
Lit, Lit, and Bit...
~Name the Author via their Death: sentenced to hang by the Czar after the failed Decemberist revolt. When it was his time to get strung up, the rope snapped. As is customary, it was considered divine intervention and he was set free. His remarks as the rope broke: "You see, in Russia they don't know how to do anything properly, not even how to make rope!"
~Name the Author via their Death: Jumped from a bridge over the Mississippi River; reputedly waved at passersby on way down. "We must travel in the direction of our fear."
Name the Book:"There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight.
"There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight.
~ Be Safe & Pleasant Reading!
~Name the Author via their Death: Jumped from a bridge over the Mississippi River; reputedly waved at passersby on way down. "We must travel in the direction of our fear."
Name the Book:"There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight.
"There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight.
~ Be Safe & Pleasant Reading!
Mystery Fanfare: Barry Award Nominees 2011
Mystery Fanfare: Barry Award Nominees 2011: "The Barry Award Nominations 2011. The nominees for the 2011 Barry Awards have just been announced. Voting is done by the readers of De..."
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Goodreads Review
The Bishop Murder Case by S.S. Van DineMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Solid 5 - major SSVan Dine fan so not much he could do wrong for me. Vance the ultimate detective - enlightened, intelligent & witty diletttant. van Dine was the golden age of detection and to this day he tops my list of detective work sans amour. Current detective stories seem to miss the overall allure & appeal Vance possessed Yes, times have passed yet I find comfort in Vance and his side kick - VanDine for solving a crime and dinner at the club.
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Sunday, February 6, 2011
Goodreads Review
Wet Grave by Barbara HamblyMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
Gave this book 100 pages and could not care about the protagonist. A sweeping novel detailing of LA in prime slave-times 1800's. Beautiful details of French/Spanish LA, slave life,debauchery and murder. Sadly I could not get into this book, it did not flow or reach a rhythm/pace. Found writing clear, lavishly descriptive and odd paced/slow. Would I rec. to others, depends on their mood and taste. Will try another to see if I can like January...
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Saturday, February 5, 2011
Goodreads Review - Local Writer - Steve Weems
Murder in the Ozarks by Steve WeemsMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Solid 3.5 - An interesting storyline of work, life strange unexpected journeys, redemption and murder. Set in Ozarks with a ton of local markers for those of us who know the area, it kept me engaged and wanting to reading more. Somewhere about mid-point, I figured the murderer and why. Would recc to folks wanting some local flavor of Ozarks and its local people with a solid mystery backdrop. As a Ozark bookstore owner, I would rec to locals and especially tourists looking for a good read of and about Ozarks. Good Job Steve!
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Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Goodreads Review
The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Solid 4. - Gets you interested and then continues to keep you hooked throughout. This book kept getting recc by several customers as a must read and really not YA fiction - agree with them. The writing and concepts are adult complexity and construction. Something about about this storyline was reminiscient of Lord of Flies YET this version is government backed. Would I read another, maybe...would I recc, you bet
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Goodread Review
The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan BradleyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Solid 4.5 for Flavia. Book #2 she is developing and coming more into her own. An intelligent, inquisitive and humorous mystery all wrapped in a young sleuth.
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GoodReads - Review - Crime and Punishment
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor DostoyevskyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Classic long, dark story of love & insantity in Russia (or anywhere). Wanted to get this classic read and crossed off my to-read list.
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