Review: Rebel by Zoe Archer (Blades of the Rose #3)

Format: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Zebra/Kensington
Pub Date: November 2010
FTC: Purchased myself

I loved the first two installments of Zoe Archer's Blades of the Rose series. But this one was...boring. I hate to say it so baldly, but I just wasn't engaged at all with  Rebel.  I liked the characters, but I wasn't pulled into the story as I was with the other two books. And the worst part? I can't pinpoint exactly WHY I didn't like it. I definitely expected to. Wanted to like it...

I think part of it is the mythology aspect. I'm not a huge Native American mythology fan. It tends to bore me. I know...very un-PC of me, but it's the truth. I know quite a few creation myths from various cultures in the US (although no Canadian ones). Know a bit more about Southwestern Pueblo myths. Still don't find it engaging in the same way I find nearly every other religion or mythology. It just doesn't "click" with me. I don't really know how else to explain it. And since so much of this story uses those myths and those traditions, I think it created a bit of distance between me and the narrative.

My other problem, I think, is with our heroine: Astrid. I loved that she was a bit older. I thought she was an interesting choice, given how emotionally scarred she was. How closed off from friends and family. And how horribly alone. But given how intense her pain was, it seemed a bit unbelievable that she would fall for someone so quickly after beginning to come alive again. I just didn't buy it. At all. Maybe it's the pace of that recovery I objected to. Maybe, given how badly she must have hurt to close herself off from all of her friends, it's because I didn't think she *could* recover from her loss. Either way, I didn't find it believable OR compelling.

As for pacing, I liked the beginning. The middle 100-150 pages were so slow. I didn't truly enjoy the book until we got more Catullus Graves in it. Because he rocks! I honestly kept reading for the scenes where he appeared.  I can't wait to read his story, Stranger, which was just published.

Of the three Blades of the Rose I have read so far, this is by far my least favorite. It may work well for those not bugged by the mythology or the pace. For me, it was just...dull.

My Grade: C

Rebel is available at The Book Depository as well as other book retailers.

I've been suspended!

I have no idea what happened since the promised email from Twitter has never arrived, but my account has been suspended with Twitter. I am appealing, of course, but until then...if you don't hear from me...that is why.

Update: Twitter responded that they thought I had been hacked. Couldn't find any of those weird posts people get when they are hacked, though, so Twitter either deleted them or thought I was too spammy. LOL. 

I'm back, tweeting about irrelevant things.

Hump Day Classic Movie: Santa Claus is Coming to Town (1970)

Everyone has their favorite holiday movies. For me, it's the old fashioned, stop motion animated classics originally shown on TV. Last night, our family watched Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

Featuring the voices of Fred Astaire and Mickey Rooney, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town takes us from Kris Kringle's infancy to his current state of gray-whiskered, jelly bellied joviality.

The only thing I *don't* like is that I get a major earworm from the songs. Because this is, in typical animated fashion, a musical of sorts. And I'll catch myself humming (off-key because I can't even hum well) throughout the day.

What holiday movies do you love to watch?

Review: The Dickens with Love by Josh Lanyon

Format: ebook
Publisher: Samhain
FTC: purchased myself
Pub Date: December 2009

The Blurb:

A quirky holiday romance about Faith, Hope, and…er…glow-in-the-dark condoms!
Three years ago, a scandal cost antiquarian “book hunter” James Winter everything that mattered to him: his job, his lover and his self-respect. But now the rich and unscrupulous Mr. Stephanopoulos has a proposition. A previously unpublished Christmas book by Charles Dickens has turned up in the hands of an English chemistry professor by the name of Sedgwick Crisparkle. Mr. S. wants that book at any price, and he needs James to get it for him. There’s just one catch. James can’t tell the nutty professor who the buyer is.

Actually, two catches. The nutty Professor Crisparkle turns out to be totally gorgeous—and on the prowl. Faster than you can say, “Old Saint Nick,” James is mixing business with pleasure…and in real danger of forgetting that this is just a holiday romance.

Just as they’re well on the way to having their peppermint sticks and eating them too, Sedgwick discovers the truth. James has been a very bad boy. And any chance Santa will bring him what he wants most is disappearing quicker than the Jolly Old Elf’s sleigh.

Josh Lanyon's books never cease to surprise me with their terrific characters and complexity. But I will admit...I didn't look forward to reading this one. Because I really (and I mean really) hate Charles Dickens. Yes, I know it makes me sound like a Scrooge.

I hate his cutesy little names that are generally tied to character traits. And I think the man was too wordy. Serialized novels in the Victorian era were often wordy, and I'm no stranger to 19th century literature, but I just can't stand his style of writing. Just a personal preference, and not the fault of Mr. Lanyon.

So it was with great reluctance that I started reading The Dickens With Love. And, despite Lanyon's tongue-in-cheek use of Dickensian names as well (James Winter?), I found myself blasting through it in a single sitting. As usual for anything written by this author.

Hump Day Classic Movie: Star Wars

Some people watch Christmas movies on Thanksgiving. Some people watch football. Our family? We do a Star Wars marathon. And by Star Wars, I am, of course, referring to the original trilogy.

Star Wars (Episode IV: A New Hope) may not seem like a classic movie, but it was filmed in 1976 and released in 1977. Which is 33 years ago! Myself, I missed the Star Wars mania. I was a newborn in 1977. But Star Wars defined my husband's childhood. And I've seen all of the movies so many times now, that I can recite them by heart.

The number of Star Wars references found in popular culture, television, and movies is mind-boggling.  The first movie is even referenced in Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth, explaining how  world culture and religion is distilled into a pop culture phenomenon.

But the best part about Star Wars Episodes IV-VI is that they are just plain fun to watch. Adventure, romance, strange creatures, humor, and lots of space battles.

Are there any holiday movie traditions in your family?

Winter is here. Boo!

I'm a big winter storm whiner. Even though I live in the mountains. The reason? I grew up in the valleys of Northern California. Where our big winter was when the mud puddles iced over. Even though I've now spent more time in the mountains than I ever did in the valleys, snow is still something I'm not fond of.

You have to shovel it. Because I get so much mail, and send so much mail, I'm out there shoveling off the deck, shoveling out the mailbox. I hate it.

You have to drive in it. School doesn't shut down here for snow. Ever. So I don't have the option of not driving in the snow. And since California doesn't use salt on the roads (they use a chemical de-icer which IMO doesn't work), the roads are slick.

But it does have its compensations. It is so pretty.

Review: The Rules of an Engagement by Suzanne Enoch

Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pub Date: October 2010
Publisher: Avon
FTC: Purchased myself

The Blurb:

For proper young ladies, good behavior has always been the rule…
Captain Bradshaw Carroway loves the seafaring life—though he’d rather be battling brigands than his current assignment of ferrying a boatload of spoiled aristocrats. One passenger, however, has caught his eye: a bewitching young minx who definitely distracts him from the rules of shipboard decorum . . .
Some rules, of course, are meant to be broken.
Miss Zephyr Ponsley has traveled the world, but she’s completely innocent in the ways of love. She’s never learned to dance or flirt. But scientific observation has taught her that the laws of attraction have no rules, and that no adventure, on land or sea, is more dangerous—or delicious—than passion!

I loved Enoch's Lessons in Love trilogy. Every book was very different, but the Rake and England's Perfect Hero are my favorites. Partly because they are about the Carroway family, which I adore. So when I saw that Rules of an Engagement was about Bradshaw Carroway, I was doing a Snoopy dance in the aisles of the grocery store.

It's been six years since the last Carroway book. Six years. But I have to say it was worth the wait.  (Okay, technically, this is part of the Adventurer's Club series, but in my heart, it's a Carroway story).

Hump Day Classic Movie: The Untouchables

I usually make fun of Kevin Costner movies. After all, he's our modern John Wayne. Meaning he plays himself in every movie he's in. But in this movie, it works.

I am normally a happy movie person. But The Untouchables made an impact on me. Part of it is the result of the cast. Sean Conner, Andy Garcia, Robert De Niro... Part of it is the fact that this is a bloody movie that really doesn't attempt to gloss over the fact that the subject matter is violent. It's not glamorized. The violence during prohibition was real, but too many movies make it look noble.

I think this is one of those movies everyone should see at least once.

Review: I'll Be Yours For Christmas by Samantha Hunter

Format: Mass Market Paperback (also available as an ebook)
Pub Date: December 2010 (available now)
Publisher: Harlequin
FTC: Received copy for review from author

The Blurb:

From the time they were kids and neighbors, Reece Winston tugged Abby Harper's pigtails and tormented her. But when Abby—now the sole owner of her parents' vineyard—sees Reece Winston again after years apart, she's unexpectedly struck by the need to play a much more adult kind of game....
Then a freak accident forces her to stay with Reece, and Abby decides that what she really wants for Christmas is Reece—perhaps wrapped with a red bow. But as Abby and Reece explore their naughty lists, they begin to realize that nothing is quite as easy as it seems!

I love holiday stories. I especially love holiday romances. Add in a neighbors-to-lovers plot, and I'm a happy little bookworm.

I admit, I normally shy away from most of the category Harlequin books. Not because I have anything against them, but because they are often too short to make me believe in the characters the way I'd like. That wasn't the case with I'll Be Yours for Christmas. The characters were very well done, even the secondary ones, and the plot was interesting and focused.

As someone from the west coast, it was a nice change to see something set in an east coast vineyard. It was unusual and refreshing not to have that Napa Valley feel to a story like this one. And I really loved all of the Christmas elements incorporated into the story. Over a dozen Christmas trees, wine themed ornaments. Small touches, but it kept the holiday feel consistent throughout the book.

The heat between Abby and Reece is scorching! I liked that Abby had a few minor kinks and Reece was very aware of them. The slow build, with a few interruptions thrown in to amp up the frustration, was nice. It felt realistic, especially given their brief "almost" encounter back in high school.

I also appreciated how the author resolved the career conflict while keeping the relationship balanced. The changes were not done in a self-sacrificing way that felt unequal, but instead felt like a move forward for both characters.

My only complaint, and it's a very minor one, was that I felt like the "arson investigation" to hold up insurance payments wasn't really needed. It didn't add anything to the story; there was enough conflict without it.

Grab a cup of eggnog and curl up in front of the fire with this one. You'll be in the holiday mood in no time.

My Grade: A-/B+

Cookbook Review: Perfect One Dish Dinners: All You Need for Easy Get Togethers by Pam Anderson

Format: Hardcover
Pub Date: September 2010
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
FTC: Digital galley received from the publisher via Netgalley

Despite the title, this cookbook is not for the cheap, easy casserole-minded cook. These dishes do go together in (mostly) one dish, but most involve long lists of ingredients and plenty of time.

We made the Frogmore Stew which is essentially a seafood boil. The proportions and cooking instructions were clear and easy to follow. And it was a one dish meal.

I really liked the appetizers and dessert recipes that go with each one dish dinner. The book is really more One Dish Main Course than One Dish Dinner, but that's okay with me. I loved the way some recipes have alternative substitutions that take far less time than the "star" recipe. It adds to the value of the book that these recipes are kind of snuck in rather than set out on their own pages to pad the recipe count.

There are some clever almost Semi-Homemade ideas, too, such as the recipe for Miniature Lemon-Raspberry Cakes that you can find on Amazon here.

The mostly one dish dinners is because many of these require second recipes to make them work. So while there are fewer dishes to dirty (and clean) titling the book "One Dish" is not really accurate.

Also, these recipes are geared towards entertaining, so they are more calorie-laden and involved than your average dinner. At least at my house. ;)

I like the recipes, I like the presentation, but this is more of a Simple Ideas for Entertaining than One Dish or Easy.

My Grade: B

Hump Day Classic Movie: El Dorado

I admit, I'm not  a big John Wayne fan. John Wayne played John Wayne in just about every movie he ever made. Even in the Conqueror (which is my own personal pick for worst movie ever made). But the few movies of his that I do watch nearly all have some interesting co-stars or supporting actors.

In the case of El Dorado, there's Robert Mitchum. And there's a very young, very handsome, James Caan.

I was watching a DVR'd episode of the new Hawaii Five-O starring James Caan's son Scott when I realized it had been a long time since I watched El Dorado. So I dug it out. Sure, it's pretty standard fare for a John Wayne western, but it's one of the few I actually enjoy. Because James Caan was a definite cutie in this role.

Review: Undeniably Yours by Shannon Stacey

Format: ebook
Publisher: Carina
Pub Date: November 2010
FTC: Review copy received from Netgalley

The Blurb:

One-night stand + two percent condom failure rate = happily ever after?
 
Bar owner Kevin Kowalski is used to women throwing their phone numbers at him, but lately he's more interested in finding a woman to settle down with. A woman like Beth Hansen. If only their first meeting hadn't gone so badly... 

Beth's tending bar at a wedding when she comes face-to-face with a tuxedo-clad man she never thought she'd see again. She tries to keep her distance from Kevin but, by last call, she can't say no to his too-blue eyes or the invitation back to his room. Then she slips out before breakfast without leaving a note and, despite their precautions, pregnant. 

Kevin quickly warms to the idea of being a dad and to seeing where things go with Beth. After all, he's not the player she thinks he is. But she's not ready for a relationship and, given his reputation, it's going to take a lot to convince her to go on a second date with the father of her child..

I'm not a huge fan of the unplanned pregnancy trope, but Shannon Stacey was able to sneak past my preferences and make me change my mind—at least for this book.

Shannon Stacey writes wonderful contemporary romance with warm, genuine characters and a subtle sense of humor.  I love the Kowalksi family, warts and all. The Kowalksis, and their family dynamics, remind me very much of Nora's classic Silhouettes (MacGregors, Stanislaskis) because there's something so appealing about the group as a whole.

My Amelia Peabody Favorites List

**Caution: Dozens of spoilers ahead**

A few of us were discussing the lovely Amelia Peabody series on Twitter, focused mainly around The Last Camel Died at Noon (book #6). That book is an important one in the overall story, but most of us found it quite slow. The Last Camel Died at Noon ranked quite low for many of us in a list of our favorite Peabody stories.

And because I've been sitting here, languishing on the couch unable to even type, I've been mentally compiling my favorites list. And here are the 19 Amelia books ranked in order of my preference. To find the order of publication, visit AmeliaPeabody.com. In the book list, you can also find the chronological order (archaeological season), as some of the later books were published as "lost journal" books and are published out of order.

If you haven't read any of the books, definitely start with the first one. I think they appeal to both mystery and romance readers. If you've started with a book other than the first one, go back! Although most of these stand alone, part of the charm is watching the characters evolve from one book to the next.

 **Spoiler Alert**

I'm back!

Sorry I've been MIA for the last week, but I got wiped by a bad reaction to the Flumist Vaccine. Being an idiot, I didn't realize that the mist was the live vaccine. Which ended up giving me every symptom of the flu (magnified) except the coughing and congestion. Ugh.

Anyway, I'm back, feeling mostly human, and have a few reviews to post this week including the newest by Shannon Stacey, Undeniably Yours.

Jill Shalvis Giveaway Winner!

The winner of a brand new copy of Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis (as chosen at random by my little guy) is:

tori aka ggs_closet

Congrats!

Please email me your mailing address at buriedbybooks@gmail.com, and I'll get your copy in the mail.

Cookbook Review: El Farol, Tapas and Spanish Cuisine by James Campbell Caruso

Format: Hardcover
Pub Date: April 2004
Publisher: Gibbs Smith
ISBN: 9781586851019
FTC: From my husband's cookbook library
 
When my good friend first moved out to New Mexico, she told me about this fabulous tapas restaurant called El Farol in Sante Fe.  We went there together in the Spring of 2005. The food was fabulous, but even better, I scored a signed copy of the chef's cookbook El Farol: Tapas and Spanish Cuisine for my husband's birthday. And got to meet Chef James Campbell Caruso who came out to sign the book. (He was a complete sweetie).

Although the chef has since moved on to other projects, this cookbook remains one of my favorites. There is no tapas restaurant here in the mountains, but the recipes in El Farol are, for the most part, so easy that I can make them at home without breaking the bank or spending all day in the kitchen.

The book itself is very pretty. There are lots of pictures, although there could be more. (You can never have too many pictures). The chapters make sense. You have the basic sauces he uses at the very beginning, followed by soups, cold plates, hot plates, main courses and then desserts and drinks. 

My favorite recipes are the Grilled Honey-Caper Shrimp, the Posole Clam Chowder, and the Rosemary-Yogurt Flatbread. One of these days, I'm going to try making the empanadas and the sangria recipes. Even the complicated recipes are written with clear directions and do not use any fancy cooking techniques. These recipes are adapted for home cooks. Every recipe I've made has become a family favorite that is requested again and again.


My Grade: A-

Hump Day Halloween

On this last hump day before Halloween, I have a series of movies and cartoons for you.

First up, is the one for the kiddies: Trick or Treat by Disney.

You can watch it on Youtube: http://youtu.be/skdVouumMk4, but I have a copy on my Black Cauldron DVD. I just love watching Donald get his just desserts delivered by a feisty Witch Hazel.

I love old-school horror. Meaning Alfred Hitchcock is my man. Of all the thrillers he made, Psycho is probably my favorite. Anthony Perkins is super creepy. This movie scared the heck out of me when I first saw it. And it's iconic.

And, to keep things in the family, my other favorite Halloween scary movie is the 1978 version of Halloween starring Janet Leigh's daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis.



What are your favorite Halloween films? Do you love gory horror films or the psychological ones? Do you watch Halloween cartoons or are you too old for that?

If you'd like a copy of the classic Donald Duck Trick or Treat cartoon, it's included as an extra on the Black Cauldron.

Physically and Emotionally Damaged: the BDB

**Spoiler Warning: If you haven't finished the Black Dagger Brotherhood series up to Lover Mine, there may be spoilers for you in the ramblings below**

A few of the romance-minded people on Twitter were discussing a week or so ago the preponderance of damaged people, both emotionally and physically, that are present in JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood.  

I wonder if the sheer number of injuries and illness is a symptom of (according to her bio) JR Ward's former profession—in health care and hospital administration—or if there's another reason her characters have such a difficult time of it.

The Black Dagger Brotherhood members are warriors fighting for the survival of their race, but they are not just battle scarred. Life, itself, has been rough on almost every single one of them. All of them, to some extent, are damaged physically or emotionally.

Review: Scoundrel by Zoe Archer (Blades of the Rose #2)

Format: Mass Market
Pub Date: October 2010
Publisher: Zebra (Kensington)
FTC: Purchased myself

The Blurb:

London Harcourt's father is bent on subjugating the world's magic to British rule. But since London is a mere female, he hasn't bothered to tell her so. He's said only that he's leading a voyage to the Greek isles. No matter, after a smothering marriage and three years of straitlaced widowhood, London jumps at the opportunity - unfortunately, right into the arms of Bennett Day. 

Bennett is a ladies' man, when he's not dodging lethal attacks to protect the powers of the ancients from men like London's father. Sometimes, he's a ladies' man even when he is dodging them. But the minute he sees London he knows she will require his full attention. The woman is lovely, brilliant, and the only known speaker of a dialect of ancient Greek that holds the key to calling down the wrath of the gods. Bennett will be risking his life again - but around London, what really worries him is the danger to his heart... 

If I had to pick a word to describe Zoe Archer’s Blades of the Rose series it would have to be Epic. Because there is just something larger than life about her stories of adventure and romance. It’s partly because they draw on a rich literary and film lore to form the background, or flavor, of the adventures. But it’s also partly because the books are just plain fun to read.

I didn’t think it was possible to enjoy Scoundrel more than the first book in the series, but I did! Bennett Day is  definitely a scoundrel. He’s perfectly content mixing business with pleasure and is particularly happy when he gets to use seduction to further the aims of his group, the Blades, in their quest to keep their enemies, the Heirs of Albion, from pushing British Colonialism onto unsuspecting people using magical repositories known as Sources.  He will fight when necessary, but he’s equally at home using stealth or his ability at decoding ciphers.

Follow My Book Blog Friday

This is my first time participating in the Follow My Book Blog Friday hop hosted by Parajunkee.com , and I'm looking forward to finding new blogs and meeting new bloggers.

Today's question: What are you reading?

I'm finishing up Scoundrel by Zoe Archer.

It's the second in the Blades of the Rose series and is a blast to read. Set in the 19th century, Scoundrel is part adventure novel, part romance with a little magic and mythology thrown in. I am completely hooked on this series. The next installment, Rebel, is scheduled for release on November 2.

I'm also hosting a giveaway of Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis. If you love contemporary romance and haven't read her yet, you've been missing out. Wonderful characters and lots of humor!

I'm on Twitter, too! I'd love for you to follow me. My tweets are a mix of books, baking, and sometimes the antics of my two adorable but mischievous boys.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Amber

Cookbook Review: Fine Cooking Appetizers

Pub Date: November 2010
Publisher: Taunton
FTC: Digital galley via Netgalley

I love appetizers. I love appetizer-only meals even more. It's like sanctioned snacking. You can take a culinary tour with just a few bites and feel like you've eaten more than you have.

What I'm not so fond of is pretentious food and that's what Fine Cooking Appetizers is filled with. It's from the editor's of the Fine Cooking Magazine, which on the whole I've found unpretentious and versatile. I want recipes I can make for my friends. Recipes that have easy to find ingredients. I don't mind fussy, but I do want something that appeals to palates beyond the sophisticated foodie.

Out of the very large book, I found only a half dozen recipes I would even consider making. And nearly all of those were in the Sips and Sweets category.

This book may very work well for those who want something sophisticated. But it doesn't work well for those who want to use ingredients from the supermarkets or for those who want a good go-to appetizer book for any occasion.

My Grade: C

Quickie Review: Goodnight Irene by Jan Burke

Format: Mass Market
Pub Date: 1993
Publisher: Pocket (Simon and Schuster)
FTC: Personal library

This is an oldie but goodie mystery that sits on my keeper shelf. Originally published in 1993, Goodnight, Irene introduces Irene Kelly, a former journalist with a sharp wit and a penchant for trouble.

This book has everything wonderful about the amateur sleuth subgenre of mysteries: first person narration, funny one-liners, a sometimes abrasive lead character, a hot guy and a very, very good plot.

There's something wonderful about Burke's writing. There's a simplicity to it that just makes the narrative flow, and the characters are so well developed that they become real almost instantly.There's also some lovely chemistry between Irene and Detective Frank Harriman, too, which appeals to the romance fan in me. I love how Irene never ventures into the TSTL* category and that Frank treats her as an equal.

This isn't a forensic mystery, so the gore is kept to the minimum. There's some gruesome stuff, people are dying after all, but it's not too descriptive or icky. This is a very dialogue-heavy book, which is likely the reason it reads so quickly.

Goodnight, Irene is the first of a series, and I've loved every one that followed. I hope you do, too.

*TSTL=Too Stupid To Live

Quickie Review: Assassin's Honor by Monica Burns

Format: Trade Paperback
Pub Date: June 2010
ISBN: 9780425234167
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
FTC: Purchased myself

Most of the time, buzz on Twitter, Goodreads, and romance blogs is a good thing. And most of the time, I don't regret forking out money for a trade paperback I purchased based on overwhelming praise by my favorite sites. But...this is one of those times that I was very disappointed both in buying a new copy of a trade paperback and the highway robbery prices they charge for them and for wasting my time reading the book.

Assassin's Honor annoyed me right away by employing a spelling for archaeology that infuriates me. "Archeology" may be an "acceptable" alternate spelling, but it's not what people in the field use. Which means that if your main character is someone attached to Chicago's famed Oriental Institute, they wouldn't be using "archeology." So using it in the text and dialogue results in an immediate auto-fail with me.

So, already cranking about that spelling pet peeve, I start reading. Only to discover that what could be a fun, suspenseful story is...irritating. Our "hero" Ares likes to add little swear words to his thoughts and speech that just grated on my nerves. "Christus" this and "Deus" that. And let's not forget "Fotte" or "Merda" either. It felt hokey and unbelievable. Like a cheap ploy to add something exotic without expending any real effort. And, since they're in a different language, they are set off in italics. To make them even more irritating.

I guess my problem with this book is that it never felt real. The premise was fine, but I had serious problems with the execution. The characters felt phony and the plot seemed canned for something that was supposed to be fresh and different. Spelling pet peeves and style issues aside, I wish the author had taken a different approach with the plot. This felt too derivative and at times made absolutely no sense. Add in a TSTL heroine and my lack of enjoyment was sealed.

My Grade: D+

Hump Day Classic Movie: Mad Monster Party (1967)

I just realized I missed last week's hump day post! Ack! How about two movies today?

We'll start with a lesser known stop motion animation classic: Mad Monster Party. Some giants in the movie industry stepped in to voice a few of the characters, but the two standouts for me are Boris Karloff and Phyllis Diller. Mad Monster Party features just about every classic monster you can think of and some very silly music.

For the bonus movie, I'll have to go with the one movie that used to scare me silly as a child: The Watcher in the Woods. Creeped me out to no end when I was little. It's less scary now, but still pretty creepy. The movie stars Bette Davis, but also has a much younger David McCallum in it! That's Donald "Ducky"Mallard of NCIS fame, although he's had a long and successful career in other roles.

Review and Giveaway: Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis

Format: Mass Market
Pub Date: October 2010
ISBN: 9780446571616
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (Hachette)

FTC:  Purchased myself; giveaway copy courtesy of Hachette Book Group (details at the bottom of the post!)

Maddie Moore's whole life needs a makeover.
In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington.

Starting over won't be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too.
The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes-and mouth-are making it hard for her to remember that she's sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie's struggles to overcome the past, though she's about to discover that there's no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor.

There are a lot of authors who are known for their humorous romances.  And while I'll sometimes turn to one of them to lift my mood, they are often some of the more shallow romances out there. But Jill Shalvis is one of the rare authors whose writing is incredibly funny AND moving. Whose characters are flawed, complex, and—perhaps rarest of all—believable.

My Hubs "Reads" Romance

My husband has never been a big print reader, and the books he did read were nearly always in the fantasy genre. But since his job requires long hours spent on the road, he's become a huge audio fan and he finds it helps him concentrate on his driving, stay alert, and keeps his mind active.

We share an Audible.com account. And because he has far more time to listen to books than I do, he tends to finish his share of books earlier than I do. Which means he ends up listening to my books. And that's how I got him hooked on romance books. Heh.

I would say his first foray into romance started with Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. Her books are what I consider the equivalent of a romance gateway drug. They are light, conversationally written books with fun characters and some serious romantic tension. The early ones (1-6) are especially good with lots of will they/won't they tension between Stephanie Plum, Joe Morelli, and Ranger. He loved them, even going so far as to recommend them to his boss and coworkers.

Review: Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill

Format: Trade Paperback
Pub Date: April 2009
ISBN: 9780451226259
Publisher: NAL (Penguin)
FTC: Purchased myself

The Blurb:

Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn't exactly glamorous, but it was Merit's. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.

Turns out her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she's traded sweating over her thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan "Lord o' the Manor" Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred- year-old vampire, he has centuries' worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects her gratitude and servitude. But an inconvenient sunlight allergy and Ethan's attitude are the least of her concerns. Someone's still out to get her. Her initiation into Chicago's nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war and there will be blood.

I am not a fan of the trade paperback format. To me, it's an oversized mass market that costs nearly twice as much. So it takes a leap of faith for me to buy something published in that format. Word of mouth about Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires convinced me to give her a try. And I'm very glad I did.

I wasn't too thrilled with the first 20 pages. Underwhelmed would probably best describe it. Maybe the hype was too much or maybe Neill's world building just didn't click with me right away. I kept going, though, and by page 30, I was snorting with amusement. By page 50, I was laughing out loud and my kids were eying me warily.

Review: Finding Perfect by Susan Mallery

Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pub Date: August 2010
Publisher: HQN (Harlequin)
ISBN: 9780373774685
FTC: Digital galley from Netgalley

The Blurb:

When Pia O'Brian's best friend dies, Pia expects to inherit her cherished cat. Instead, the woman leaves Pia three frozen embryos. With a disastrous track record in the romance department and the parenting skills of a hamster, Pia doesn't think she's meant for motherhood. But determined to do the right thing, Pia decides to become a single mother. Only to meet a gorgeous, sexy hunk the very same day.

A former foster-care kid now rich beyond his wildest dreams, Raoul Moreno runs a camp for needy children in Fool's Gold, California. After his last relationship, Raoul thought he was done with women and commitment. Still, he can't get sweet, sexy Pia out of his mind—and proposes a crazy plan. But can such an unconventional beginning really result in the perfect ending?

Susan Mallery's fictional town of Fool's Gold continues to be a sweet setting for her contemporary romance trilogy. We learn far more about the people in the community this time and less about the physical setting. Good for readers of the rest of the trilogy, but it may weaken the sense of place for those new to the series.

I had some major suspension of disbelief issues with this book. Pia O'Brian is supposed to be hyper-organized. But her approach to her friend's legacy is anything but. She doesn't research the heck out of the procedure until after Raoul does. She is completely unprepared for the reality of being a parent, and I just found that inconsistent with the rest of her character.

Raoul last appeared in Susan Mallery's Bakery Sisters trilogy as a teenager, so it was a bit odd to see him in his 30s here. Some kind of romance land hyper-aging process, apparently. It was cute, but also distracting.  He does provide a quiet strength that Pia needs, but I found his determination to stay aloof kind of phony.  I'm not sure I ever really bought into it.

I thought it was interesting that Pia, the girl the whole town seems to love, was a reformed high school mean girl. Small towns can be resentful, so it was unusual to see that the only one who remembers what Pia was like in high school seems to be Pia.

Despite being frequently tossed from the story by some WHAT THE HELL? moments (usually prompted by Pia not thinking something through) I did enjoy reading the last Fool's Gold book. It's a sweet story about good people. Even if the premise is wildly improbable and not especially suited to courtship and romance.

My Grade: B/B-

Hump Day Classic Movie: Operation Petticoat (1959)

I was saddened to hear last week that actor Tony Curtis had died. I grew up watching so many of his films. Not only was he gorgeous in that silver screen larger than life way,  he was incredibly funny.

Curtis's comedic genius is often cited in Some Like It Hot, a gender bending comedy co-starring Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe. But for me, the quintessential Curtis movie is Operation Petticoat.

Also starring Cary Grant, Operation Petticoat is one of those films I think has held up well over time. Curtis plays a recreation officer turned supply officer who uses questionable methods to procure necessary supplies for a submarine during World War II. It's really a subtle role, where the humor is often situational and delivered in a dry, sarcastic and backhanded way.

In this movie, Curtis has that scoundrel air about him: the not quite a good guy but you love him anyway vibe. And that, I think, is what defines Curtis as an actor for me. He doesn't play the heroic good guy. He plays the reluctant one.

Watch a clip here.

Quickie Review: Slow Heat by Jill Shalvis

Pub date: February 2010
Publisher: Berkley
Format: Mass Market
FTC: Purchased myself

The Blurb:

Baseball player Wade O'Riley's bad-boy image is about to be cleaned up by publicist Samantha McNead. But the sexual tension between them is about to drive Wade to his knees.

I know nothing about sports. Zip. Nada. Diddly-squat. I never played them. I never watched them on TV. I couldn't tell you anything beyond the very basics of baseball. And I'm not really all that interested  either. (Which probably contributed to the gaping pit of knowledge mentioned above). But I loved this book. Loved. It.

Corporate sponsors are getting nervous about increasing bad publicity surrounding the private lives of the Heat's players. As the latest offender in the bad press brigade, Wade O'Riley is forced to pretend to clean up his act—by pretending to be involved in a committed relationship with  the Heat's publicist, Samantha McNead. The problem is that the two have a past... and some serious chemistry.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And for the second year in a row, eBay sellers are launching a Bling My Bra campaign to raise money for the Susan G. Komen For the Cure.

Bling My Bra starts with a bra, designed by volunteers around a theme, and auctioned off as one of a kind art creations. 100% of the proceeds goes directly to charity. Bras are listed throughout the month and can be found by searching "Bling My Bra" on eBay.com.

Or, you can just click here for a link to current auctions.

These are funky, fun and all for a good cause. I hope you'll check the auctions out!

Some of the designs:

Cookbook Review: Beyond the Great Wall by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid

FTC: From my personal library

I know it's been a long time since I posted a cookbook review. But reading Zoe Archer's Warrior and Jeannie Lin's Butterfly Swords brought this book to mind.  Beyond the Great Wall: Recipes and Travels in the Other China is probably the most gorgeous cookbook I've ever seen. No exaggeration. This is the type of cookbook you read. It's far more than  recipes. But the recipes that are there are simple, surprising, and yummy.

Beyond the Great Wall reminds us that China is far more diverse than we give it credit for. And that Chinese food is far more than the Cantonese or Szechuan dishes served in American Chinese restaurants.  There are bread and pasta recipes. There are recipes for fried fish. For kebabs that look quite similar to foods from Iran. Even doughnuts.

But above and beyond the selection of recipes, the photos, and the narratives, this book does what all good books should do: it takes you on a journey through China that is so engrossing you feel, at least a little bit, that you've been there yourself.

My Grade: A

Review: Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin

Format: Mass Market
Publisher: Harlequin
Pub Date: October 2010
FTC: Digital galley from Netgalley

It's a rare thing to have a historical romance that's not set in the American West or in Regency England these days. So in that respect, Butterfly Swords is a breath of fresh air. Set in China during the Tang Dynasty, the book tells the story of  Princess Ai Li and a barbarian foreigner named Ryam. 

I've read a fair amount of Asian literature, and the beauty and simplicity of the prose always amazes me. Jeannie Lin's writing is deceptively simple but manages to effortlessly evoke an Asian atmosphere. Her knowledge of Chinese culture shines through, and everything Ai Li does feels authentic to both the period and her culture.

But... (you knew this was coming) I did not feel the same way about our hero, Ryam.

One aspect of the story constantly bothered me—often enough to throw me out of the story. The author makes it a point to say (repeatedly) how different Ryam looks. But fails to tell us where he's from. Although the story takes place smack in the middle of the Silk Road trading routes, and it wouldn't be uncommon for foreigners to be there, it strains my suspension of disbelief that people wouldn't know where he was from or what his ethnicity was. Why the coyness? Why not just pick a nationality and stick to it? It's a secret not only from everyone he meets, but from everyone who knows him, too.  I found that indicative of the weakness of his character overall. He was a tall, muscular blond guy who fought well. Without a history, personality or culture to draw from, he's about as complex as an animated cardboard cutout.

I loved the fight scenes in this book. Especially those with Ai Li and her butterfly swords. I loved that she was strong, capable, and mature for her age. But that was not enough to overcome what felt like an utter lack of chemistry between Ryam and Ai Li. Perhaps if Ryam's character were not so sketchily drawn, I would have felt more involved in the story. As it was, this felt more like a book about political intrigue and less about the relationship between our hero and heroine.

My Grade: C+/B-

Hump Day Classic Movie: Lady in White (1988)

Forget all of those gory horror flicks—this is the quintessential Halloween movie. Set in the 1960s, Lady in White is spooky, scary, and moving without expensive special effects or bloodbaths. And it remains one of my favorite movies of all time.

Yes, it's early for Halloween, but this gives you plenty of time to put this in your Netflix queue, reserve it at your local DVD rental store (if you still have one) or to buy one online and have it delivered.

This is another one of those movies that tends to fly below the radar. Those who've seen it generally have mad love for it. Those who haven't are skeptical about the appeal.

It has a plethora of character actors (Alex Rocco, Len Cariou) and stars Lukas Haas in what I personally consider his iconic role. The retro setting means this movie is kind of timeless. And although it doesn't take place entirely during Halloween, there is a strong Gothic element throughout. The few special effects are, I admit, badly done and the mystery isn't that hard to figure out. But what makes this movie scary is that it taps into what scares us as children and then shows us what we should really have been worried about.

If you haven't seen it yet, you've been missing out!

Review: Warrior by Zoe Archer (Blades of the Rose #1)

Format: Kindle ebook (also available in mass market and other e-formats)
Publisher: Zebra
FTC: Purchased myself (although I did win a print copy on a blog ;) )

The Blurb:

To most people, the realm of magic is the stuff of nursery rhymes and dusty libraries. But for Capt. Gabriel Huntley, it's become quite real and quite dangerous...

In Hot Pursuit...
The vicious attack Capt. Gabriel Huntley witnesses in a dark alley sparks a chain of events that will take him to the ends of the Earth and beyond—where what is real and what is imagined become terribly confused. And frankly, Huntley couldn't be more pleased. Intrigue, danger, and a beautiful woman in distress—just what he needs.

In Hotter Water...
Raised thousands of miles from England, Thalia Burgess is no typical Victorian lady. A good thing, because a proper lady would have no hope of recovering the priceless magical artifact Thalia is after. Huntley's assistance might come in handy, though she has to keep him in the dark. But this distractingly handsome soldier isn't easy to deceive... 

I haven't read a book like Warrior in a long, long time. In some ways, it's very old fashioned. In a good way. In other ways, this book is entirely new and fresh. There are echoes of Rider Haggard, the Amelia Peabody series, the Mummy movies, and even Indiana Jones in this book. The setting is one I haven't read a lot about: Mongolia. But it's clear that the author has done her research. The climate, customs, even the sprinkling of Mongolian words throughout the story all add to a nice sense of authenticity.

I love that this book is hard to pin down to a single subgenre. There's suspense. There's paranormal. There's history. Even some steampunkish elements. But all of it is woven with such subtle skill that no one element dominates any other. It's entirely new, yet borrows from an extensive film and literature lore—which only adds to the richness of the storytelling.

Banned Books Week September 25-October 2, 2010

Have you ever wondered just where in the US books are being challenged? Think you already know? You might be surprised by this map, which shows challenged books by location from 2007-2010. I know I was.
Google Map of Challenges


View Book Bans and Challenges, 2007-2010 in a larger map

Banned Books Week: Day 1

It's the first day of Banned Books Week! Celebrate your freedom to read by helping spread the word about intellectual freedom! Find a book from the long list of challenged books to read, write a letter to the editor of your local paper, sponsor a display at your local library or simply post a blog post highlighting this important event!

Hump Day Classic Movie: The Name of the Rose (1986)

This is the film very loosely based on Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose (Il nome della rosa). It stars Sean Connery and a very young Christian Slater and was directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud . The settings and locations are just gorgeous. Not surprising since they were filmed in Italy and West Germany.

Eco's novel was wildly popular in the early 1980s and many contemporary film critics panned this movie for deviating so far from the book. But I think it has weathered well over time and now can stand on its own without suffering constant comparisons to the source material.

Unlike most of my other Hump Day movies, this isn't a happy, funny movie. It's a murder mystery. So expect a body count.

Quickie Review: Much Ado About Marriage by Karen Hawkins

Publisher: Pocket Star Books (Simon and Schuster)
Format: Mass Market
FTC: Purchased myself

Apparently a rewrite of an older novel published under a pseudonym, Much Ado About Marriage ties both the MacLean curse series and the upcoming Hurst Amulet series together in an Elizabethan romance set in both England and Scotland.

For those really bad with dates, that would be the 1500s aka 16th century. ;)

It's not often I read romances set during the time of Shakespeare. But I think Hawkins pulls this one off for the most part. The ridiculous collars don't seem as out of place. The speech is a nice mix of archaic terms and modern dialogue.

My knowledge of English/Scottish history is...subpar...so I won't even begin to guess about how accurate her depiction of the whole Queen Elizabeth vs. Mary situation was. Or what she tweaked. Clearly she took quite a bit of historical license when describing political events.

I'm pretty sure I haven't read the previous incarnation of this book, but I admit to feeling some serious deja vu while reading it. Maybe it's because I've read the MacLean books, but much of this felt familiar. Not necessarily bad, but a tad distracting.

What I loved about this book was the humor. The heroine, Fia, is a handful. She gives as good as she gets. And knows just how to irritate our hero, Thomas Wentworth, into speechlessness. Much of the humor is characterization and dialogue. Which makes me very happy. There's been a dearth of light-hearted books lately in my reading and this was a welcome change.

My Grade: B

Quickie Review: Born to Bite by Lynsay Sands

I would call this one Vampire Gone Country. It has all of the Argeneau trappings we normally see, except this one is set in the farmland of southern Canada.

I keep hoping for the old Lynsay Sands. The one who wrote laugh-out-loud books for Dorchester. Not the slightly amusing romantic suspense books with vampires in them she seems to write for Avon.

Given the recent problems with Dorchester, it seems Sands made a good move to leave them...but did she have to give up her signature style as well? I don't know if it was pressure from the publisher or a different editor, but every single book since she joined Avon has been...meh. I used to love the Argeneau series. Single White Vampire is probably the funniest paranormal romance ever published. The books since Sands's move to Avon are far too serious to be funny and not gritty enough to be good Urban Fantasy.

There are too many characters in this book and too much backstory (If you haven't read the previous books, don't start with this one!) There's nothing here at all that is surprising or engaging. It was a decent read, but the romance doesn't develop so much as appear and the whodunnit aspect is very predictable. Fans of the series will probably like this one, but Sands has written far better books than this one.

My Grade: C-

Hump Day Classic Movie: The Wind and the Lion (1975)

I've been reading Zoe Archer's Warrior lately and for some reason this movie came to mind.  Something about the exotic locale and sense of adventure, I think.

Taking some serious liberties with an actual historical event that occurred at the turn of the 20th century, The Wind and the Lion is a wonderful and bittersweet adventure movie. Sean Connery does an adequate job as a desert leader, but the real stand out performance here is Brian Keith as Teddy Roosevelt. I'm a huge TR fan and this film is by far the best portrayal of the man I've seen.

Also stars Candice Bergman and John Huston.

Between the Pages

 

If there's one thing I complain about regarding modern technology, it is the demise of the snail mail letter. We still send a limited number of cards, but actual letters have been replaced by email, texting and Facebook. And that, I feel, is a shame. Because there's a certain impersonality and impermanence to electronic mail or comments. There are few (if any) painstakingly handwritten letters anymore to be filed away in someone's keepsake drawer. Or tucked away in the pages of a favorite romance novel...like the set of three letters I rediscovered today.

During my time as a used bookseller, I found all kinds of crazy things stashed in between the pages of books: grocery lists, handmade bookmarks, business cards, cash register receipts, prescriptions...but my favorite discoveries were always letters. The letters I saved. And while cleaning out my office papers today I found my favorite letters of them all: a set of letters between two obviously young people written in 1984/1985. If the handwriting didn't give away the fact that these are teenagers, the content definitely would. But they are still incredibly sweet.

Review: Mind Games by Carolyn Crane

Format: Mass Market
Pub Date: March 2010
Publisher: Spectra (Random House)
FTC: Purchased this book myself
Genre: Urban Fantasy

The Blurb:

JUSTINE KNOWS SHE’S GOING TO DIE. ANY SECOND NOW.

Justine Jones has a secret. A hardcore hypochondriac, she’s convinced a blood vessel is about to burst in her brain. Then, out of the blue, a startlingly handsome man named Packard peers into Justine’s soul and invites her to join his private crime-fighting team. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime deal. With a little of Packard’s hands-on training, Justine can weaponize her neurosis, turning it outward on Midcity’s worst criminals, and finally get the freedom from fear she’s always craved. End of problem.

Or is it? In Midcity, a dashing police chief is fighting a unique breed of outlaw with more than human powers. And while Justine’s first missions, including one against a nymphomaniac husband-killer, are thrilling successes, there is more to Packard than meets the eye. Soon, while battling her attraction to two very different men, Justine is plunging deeper into a world of wizardry, eroticism, and cosmic secrets. With Packard’s help, Justine has freed herself from her madness—only to discover a reality more frightening than anyone’s worst fears.

Mind Games was probably the most hyped book of  Spring 2010. Bloggers everywhere were raving about it. Even those who don't normally wax rhapsodic over anything.  So when I spotted this book at a bookstore, I picked it up intending to read and review it over the weekend.

Three months later, I finally finished it.

The Towering TBR

Most days, I am in the middle of a few different books. Usually one upstairs, one downstairs, one on my Ipod touch and one on my computer. And maybe one in the car... that's (lemme count...um) 5 books max. So imagine my surprise when I checked out my Goodreads status to discover that I'm currently reading 9 books at once. NINE.

I have no idea why there are so many books I'm in the middle of. One book, which I finished today (Praise the Book Gods!), I have been reading for over 3 months. I just couldn't seem to stay plugged in. With the others, I seemed to have developed some rare form of bibliophile ADD. I keep getting distracted by books and lose interest in the ones I'm currently reading.

Now, I wonder if the problem is me or if these books I'm drifting away from just aren't good enough to hold my interest. I could leave the majority of them unfinished without a twitch. Not that they are necessarily bad, but they aren't stay-up-until-the wee-hours enthralling.

Regardless of the reason, I'm hoping finishing this book will have cured me of this annoying TBR madness. And while my To Be Read pile is still gargantuan, I'm hoping I'll be able to keep my currently reading shelf on Goodreads under five. Three would be even better.

What's the maximum number of books you've ever read at one time? Has the TBR madness affected you, too?

Review: Fair Game by Josh Lanyon

Format: Ebook
Publisher: Carina
FTC: Received for review from publisher via Netgalley
M/M Romantic Suspense

The Blurb:

A crippling knee injury forced Elliot Mills to trade in his FBI badge for dusty chalkboards and bored college students. Now a history professor at Puget Sound university, the former agent has put his old life behind him—but it seems his old life isn't finished with him.

A young man has gone missing from campus—and as a favor to a family friend, Elliot agrees to do a little sniffing around. His investigations bring him face-to-face with his former lover, Tucker Lance, the special agent handling the case.

Things ended badly with Tucker, and neither man is ready to back down on the fight that drove them apart. But they have to figure out a way to move beyond their past and work together as more men go missing and Elliot becomes the target in a killer's obsessive game...

When I think of a Josh Lanyon book, I think of two things: terrific characters and a quirky sense of humor. Fair Game has both--as well as a fantastic suspense story.

Elliot Mills is on the road to physical and emotional recovery following the major life changes foisted upon him. Teaching at the local university may not be as thrilling as field work as an FBI agent, but he's adjusted to the slower pace. And only occasionally pines for his old life and his old love.

I love that Elliot is so mature. He's past the pity stage and is content if not happy with his new life. He has a close relationship with his dad--a very liberal retired professor who disapproved of his law enforcement career and is happy to watch his son settle down into academia. He does not really have a social life, though. He's still more than a little hung up on his ex...an FBI agent named Tucker Lance. [Am I the only one immature enough to giggle at that name?]

Rant: Non-readers Aren't Lazy

Obviously, I'm a huge reader. I love books. I love the escape they offer, the ability to travel without leaving my house, the presentations of culture, ideas, emotions that are shared on the page. But what about the people who don't like to read? What is wrong with them?

My answer? Nothing. Reading for pleasure isn't for everyone. And there are a lot of reasons for this. But not everyone seems to understand that. For example:

Jason Pinter asked what can be done to "reach" these TV loving non-readers in a recent tweet.

Wondering if people who watch tv but don't read, or hesitant/non-readers, would find shorter/serialized books accessible. How 2 reach them?

First, I dispute the fact that TV watching people who don't like to read have short attention spans (as seems to be implied by that tweet). TV viewers are a diverse population. Look at the number of channels available and the varied content they have.  Sure, we live in a society that has information overload and shortening patience. But I don't get the correlation between TV watching and the need for shorter books.

We're talking apples and oranges here, Mr. Pinter. Different media. Reading is a relaxing way to spend time for some people. For others, it's work. TV can be mindless, but it isn't necessarily so. One has nothing whatsoever to do with the other.

Why don't people like to read? Some don't have the time. Some don't have the money. Some people don't find it relaxing. Some have learning disabilities that make reading a chore.

On a personal level, my husband is a non-reader.  We recently discussed our reading experiences, and I was astonished to discover that he doesn't experience what I do when he reads. For me, reading is like a TV screen in my head. I get a mental image of the action from a novel in my head as I read. For him, that doesn't happen. But, as we recently discovered, he *does* get that with audiobooks. Making the books shorter won't help him enjoy reading more. Serializing them and making him wait for each installment won't help either.

I don't consider non-readers to be lazy, dumb, or otherwise lacking in attention spans. Accessibility isn't usually the issue. Lack of interest is. I know that most non-readers have hobbies or interests that I don't share, too. And I get quite tired of the literary community looking at non-readers as some form of plague upon the intellectual future of mankind.

Hump Day Classic Movie: The Love Bug (1968)

My youngest child is obsessed with vehicles. Enthralled by anything that moves. And his most recent fascination is Herbie, The Love Bug.

The original Love Bug is a Disney movie about a VW Beetle with attitude to spare. It is really quite a cute little movie, if you aren't subjected to it over and over and over and over...

It's very over the top and silly, but my favorite parts are the glimpses of popular history we see in the film. The love interest, played by  Michele Lee, is an automotive salesperson. A professional. A far cry from the usual stereotype we see of women in "female" careers of secretary or teacher in the 1960s. There's also a brief scene featuring some stoned hippies--which I thought was pretty funny when you think about Disney and their usual lack of humor re: anything racy. Their "altered" state is implied rather than shown, though, so maybe that's how they got away with it.

This is a timeless family movie--and especially great for those with car obsessed sons. It has some depth, lots of humor, and a very cute car.