I have moved!!!!!!

Yes, I have moved to a self-hosted blog. Yipee!!!

I must say I am sorry for my absenteeism. I have been taken away from my posting and commenting and everything not because of setting up the new blog (relatively painless) but some other pressing happenings around the homestead. Seems like things are finally ironing themselves out so I will be able to spend the time I want with my new blog and everyone I follow (and those yet to be discovered).

Please update your RSS feeds, google/email/or however you follow, if you follow.

Also, please take a peek at the my new “home” and let me know what you think.  It is a work in progress and any opinions would be wonderful!!!

Bo’s Cafe – Review/Tour Stop

High-powered executive Steven Kerner is living the dream in southern California. But when his bottled pain ignites in anger one night, his wife kicks him out. Then an eccentric mystery man named Andy Monroe befriends Steven and begins unravelling his tightly wound world. Andy leads Steven through a series of frustrating and revealing encounters to repair his life through genuine friendship and the grace and love of a God who has been waiting for him to accept it. A story to challenge and encourage, BO’S CAFE is a model for all who struggle with unresolved problems and a performance-based life.

Let me start of by admitting that there are times I am a little hesitant about reviewing a book labeled as Christian fiction. I have read some that can be preachy with a little of the “believe as I do or be damned”.  That being said, I was pleasantly surprised by Bo’s Cafe by John Lynch, Bill Thrall and Bruce McNicol.

Steven Kerner is not the most likeable character, very self-absorbed and unwilling to recognize his own faults and how they may be effecting his failing marriage, distant daughter and jeopardized job.  Andy Monroe is basically Steven’s guardian angel – walking into his life at the most difficult time and offering a way to accept grace and begin to mend his damaged life. Through humor, car rides, honesty and a band of characters that meet at Bo’s Cafe, the message is clear – everyone needs a sense of community. A safe place where all masks are removed and one can expose their true self – flaws and all – and no one will run or judge.

Bo’s Cafe did make me think and there were conversations between Steven, Andy and others at the cafe that I could relate to and apply to myself.  God and religion are mentioned throughout the book the need toaccept the fact that God loves us not for what we do but for who we are. Yet, I believe this thought can be utilized by everyone, religious or not. It does not matter who or where you find your safe place, the idea is to open ourselves up and accept those safe places that are probably right in front of us.

I had the opportunity to ask the authors what it was like collaborating on a book. They were kind enough to give a little insight into their experience:

(John Lynch, Bill Thrall, Bruce McNicol)

Collaborating on a book is one of the most unwieldy and dazzling processes which we three authors have experienced. It’s like seeing a symphony come together where the finished music is so much richer than any one instrument could have ever produced.

Anyone can imagine, even if they’ve never written a book, how cumbersome writing as a team might be. There are many moving parts in creating and writing a book, including ways of developing characters, writing styles, biases on plot development, turns of phrase, coordinating schedules and so forth.

In our case, we have lived in community for many years, we’ve experienced (imperfectly) what it means to submit to one another’s strengths and protect their limitations. This co-authoring process is amazing for us because these books always turn out much better than anyone of us could’ve individually produced. You’ll see more of this process happening every week at www.boscafe.com as the characters of Bo’s Café hang out at Bo’s Café and as we three get to talk each week about our community on our 15 minute podcast.

When three writers who know and love each other get together on a common mission, the creativity, imagination, fun, and wisdom grows beyond any one of us. Indeed, the result is greater than the sum of the parts.

I would recommend visiting the Bo’s Cafe website where you can find more information on the author’s, podcasts and peek in on more of the interactions in Bo’s Cafe.

I would like to thank Miriam from Hachette Book Group and the authors for allowing me to read and review this thought-provoking and inspiring book.

Frankenstein: Prodigal Son – Review

Two centuries after Victor Frankenstein created a man from dead tissue and the power of a lightning bolt, a series of brutal killings are occurring in New Orleans, and the killer is taking body parts. Detectives Carson O’Connor and Michael Maddison are on the case, but they’re about to find out that these killings are linked to something far more sinister than they could ever imagine. . .and that the man once known as Victor Frankenstein has defied death and begun a new mission to replace mankind with a race entirely of his own creation.

Did you know that Mary Shelley actually wrote Frankenstein based on facts – actual events? Dr. Frankenstein really did create a monster from body parts of murderers, thieves and other hooligans. He did – true story. Oh, and did you know they are both alive today? In New Orleans.

Leave it up to Dean Koontz, with Kevin J. Anderson, to hatch a story where characters created years ago are alive and well and wreaking havoc to this day. Frankenstein: Prodigal Son is an entertaining  look at how these two well-known characters would behave in the modern world. The monster (Deuclian) has learned to control the violence within him. The doctor (Victor Helios) has learned that advances in science and technology will allow him to create a Utopian society in which he will be God.

There are some grisly murders, possible serial killers, bantering detectives (think a male/female Lethal Weapon with some sexual tension), Stepford-like creations with super-human strength and speed and an autistic boy whose smile may very well cause his demise.  The book is a fast-paced read with short chapters (not a very Koontz thing) that jump from one set of characters to another in a coherent fashion.

This said, not my favorite Dean Koontz.  The idea is great and the basic elements were there but parts of the story and characters were very cliche.  I realize the banter between the detectives was an effort at character development but it was over the top and distracting at times. I truly enjoyed the sections concerning Dr. Frankenstein/Helios and his attempts to create a super race. His relationship with his “wife” and descriptions of his household were very enjoyable and did create a diabolical character that I had no problem disliking and fearing.

I would recommend this book to a Koontz fan or anyone who likes a good, easy monster story. I will be reading the next two books in the trilogy since there was nothing concluded in Prodigal Son and  I am interested enough to want to see what happens.

Other Koontz and Frankenstein info:

Frankenstein: Prodigal Son actually started as a screenplay written by Mr. Koontz for the USA cable network. When the television show strayed so drastically from his vision, Mr. Koontz pulled-out of the project and decided to write his story as a novel. The original Frankenstein actually gave the author nightmares into his thirties. He describes this in his Frankenstein website:

From the time I saw the best of the Frankenstein films on TV when I was eleven–the original featuring Karloff’s remarkable performance, Bride of Frankenstein, and Son of Frankenstein–I relished them even though they gave me the worst nightmares of my life. In fact, I continued to have Frankenstein-themed nightmares into my thirties, a few times a year crying out in my sleep and waking in a sweat. Interestingly, when the Frankenstein dreams stopped, I ceased having nightmares of any kind; and for many years, my sleep has been undisturbed.

And now I leave you with the best interpretation of the original:

Teaser Tuesday (09.29.09)

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
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Head on over to MizB’s to share your teasers and to check out what others are teasing about.

My teaser this week is from The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel by Maureen Lindley.

I would say that most of the Mongolians I have known whould be lost in any society other than their own. Their sky, earth, rivers and mountains are as much a part of them as any family member and are treated with equal respect.

What is your big tease this week?

Winners – The Gift of An Ordinary Day

I am a day late in announcing the winners of The Gift of An Ordinary Day by Katrina Kenison. WordPress has not been very cooperative so that is why I am a day late. So, here are the winners:

Stacie from Simply Stacie

Lucy

Marion from Berudaonion’s Weblog

Sandra K.

Tina from Tutu’s Two Cents

I have notified the winners by email and if the mailing information is not provided with in 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.  If you are a winner and are viewing this post as your notification, please just click on the contact me button (top right) and confidential email will be sent – be sure to include your address.

Banned Books Week

Today marks the first day of the annual Banned Books Week (September 26th through October 3rd). Per the American Library Association (ALA):

Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment.  Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States.

Intellectual freedom—the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular—provides the foundation for Banned Books Week.  BBW stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints for all who wish to read and access them

I have not loved everything I have ever read. Whether it be because of content, writing or just not my taste. I have banned books from my own library. My own library being the important words of that sentence.  I would never consider my own thoughts and feelings on books to be a barometer on what is appropriate for any other person or institution.

Who challenges books and why? Parents are the number one culprit for reasons such as the material being sexually explicit to inaccuracy. Take look at the wonderful graphs and charts from the ALA.  As a parent, I can understand concern over books of certain subject matter being utilized in schools. My daughter brought home a couple of titles that caused my eyebrows to raise during her junior and high school jail sentence (that is what she calls it). I read the books myself, checked over the syllabus from school and discussed them with my daughter. I wanted to be certain she was comfortable with the material.  Funny that those were the books she had an interest in and received easy A’s on homework and tests.  If my daughter had expressed discomfort, I would have requested she be allowed to read a different book. Lucky for me, this was an option in her schools. The thought of challenging a book selection would have never crossed my mind.

The ALA compiles lists of the most challenged books but it is by no means comprehensive. Research has suggested that for every one challenge that is reported to the ALA, there are four or five which are not reported. I have taken a look at the lists on the ALA website. I have read some of the challenged books but not nearly enough. There are titles that make no sense to me and those where I can understand concern but not to the point of censorship.  Please take the time to review these lists, you may find yourself surprised.

• Banned and/or challenged classics
• 100 most frequently challenged books: 1990 – 1999
• 2008 top-ten list
• Most frequently challenged authors of the 21st century

You should also check out the Banned Books Week website for information on events, what you can do and a very informative map that shows the attempt to ban books is alive and well today.

I have seen some challenges and events honoring this week (Bites, The Biblio Blogazine) but at the moment, I want to put forth my own personal infinite challenge. No time limit, no set number, no set list of books. I want to take the lists provided and revisit those challenged books I read oh, so long ago and discover those titles I have not had the opportunity to enjoy. I will be keeping track and sharing my progress in the reading challenges tab.

Is there anything you are doing to honor these challenged and banned books? I would love to hear your thoughts about some titles that you caused you to think “Really? Really? Why?”

Her Fearful Symmetry contest

Breaking news!!!!

I received a comment on my review of Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger from Matt (Regal Literary) explaining how to enter for a drawing for up to 10 advanced reader’s copies and three 1st-edition hard copies of the book.  The drawing will take place October 1st.

I loved this book. I would head on over to my review and see how you can try for a chance to win this superb book! (By the way, the Facebook link is actually 2 comments above Matt’s comment).