Tess Gerritsen Give-Away

Jenn at Jenn's Bookshelf is having a book give-away to celebrate the release of The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen.

To enter, leave a comment here. Winners will be announced on Saturday, September 6th.

Big Stone Gap

Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani was the library book club book of the month. The club met yesterday for lunch and we had a wonderful discussion about this book.

This is Ms. Trigiani debut novel and it is set in 1970s Blue Ridge Mountains. Her heroine, Ave Maria Mulligan, possesses strength, dignity, as well as vulnerability when she sets out on the most important journey of her life - the search for authentic identity and fulfillment in love. The character of Ave Maria is believable and the supporting characters are a delight to read. The Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia are wonderfully depicted and visually real and gracious.

Ave Maria is shattered by the death of her beloved, immigrant mother, and she faces middle-age as an independent, but lonely woman. Ms. Trigiani sculpts her novel around Ave Maria's inability to feel, to act on impulses of love, to become something other than Big Stone Gap's sensible, efficient, spinster-like institution.

Soon enough, Ave Maria must determine not only how to treat multiple marriage proposals but to come to grips with her own startling origins. Ms. Trigiani is simply extraordinary in he resolution of Ave Maria's quest for identity, never compromising real epiphany for cliched answers. Ms. Trigiani prophetically states that

"the great mysteries in life can only be solved person to person. We can pull each other through."

Americans are lucky to have yet another Southern woman to be our guide to the truths of the heart.

I really enjoyed this book because it allowed me to view the people indiginous to this region as more than toothless illiterates. (I live in a town just a few hours from Big Stone Gap.) This book was a pleasure because Ms. Trigiani's affection for these people is most touching and it's how I've come to feel. People are more than their "twangy" accents or improper grammar.

R.I.P. III Challenge

Okay, so I told myself I was not signing up for any more book challenges this year, but Stainless Steel Droppings has made that decision impossible! He is having a R.I.P. III Challenge - R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril Challenge - that I can't resist. I have signed up to do Perils the First - read 4 books from September 1 to October 31st. I can choose from the following categories:

--Mystery
--Suspense
--Thriller
--Dark Fantasy
--Gothic
--Horror
--Supernatural

Right now, I'm not 100% sure which books I'll be reading, but the following are a few I'm looking forward to:

--The Shadows - Book 11 in the Vampire Huntress™ Series by L.A. Banks
--Break of Dawn - Book 3 in the Vampire Babylon series by Chris Marie Green
--East of Fools - Book 4 in the Morganville Vampire series by Rachel Caine
--When Twilight Burns - Book 4 in the Gardella Vampire Chronicles by Colleen Gleason
--Lover Enshrined - Book 6 of the Black Daggar Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward

Hum - I see a vampire marathon headed my way!

The Accidental Time Machine

The Accidental Time Machine by Joe Haldeman is the first book I read for the new on-line book club "Reading with Becky".

The time travel genre has undergone so much variation but Mr. Haldeman offers a new twist: a device that travels in one direction only, to the future. Lowly MIT research assistant Matt Fuller works long days - and sometimes many nights - in a physics lab, until one day he makes an odd discovery. A sensitive quantum calibrator - don't let this term scare you, there are no boring scientific details in this book - keeps disappearing and reappearing moments later when he hits the reset button.

Matt realizes that the device functions as a crude, forward-traveling time machine and he suddenly has visions of a Nobel Prize dancing in his head. After a few experiments, he is able to send a pet turtle into the future, and the turtle returns as good as new. Feeling on the verge of greatness, Matt latches his device to a car and leaps into the future.

The interesting wrinkle here is that each jump ahead is 12 times longer than the last. Matt's successive futures involve jail time, unwelcome celebrity, a time after the Second Coming of Jesus and assorted holocausts in the earth's climate. He begins to long for his native era. This book delivers cutting-edge technological speculation and irresistibly compelling reading.

The Accidental Time Machine is a fun, quick read, one I thoroughly enjoyed. Not perhaps ultra deep, as the book does not tackle any of the great questions of life or of science fiction, but it was an enjoyable time travel romp, the story of one man and later a companion of his and their journey farther and farther into the future. I would recommend this to all readers, not just science fiction lovers.


***For more information on "Reading With Becky", click the icon on the sidebar. The book for September will be The Count of Monte Cristo. We would love to have you join us!

More Book Give-Aways

Here are a few more end of summer book give-aways:

Scribe Vibe is giving away Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. Contest ends August 31st.

Zen Sanity is giving away The Diary of Anne Frank. Contest ends August 31st.

Amateur de Livre is giving away Bleachers by John Grisham. Contest ends August 31st.

My Friend Amy is giving away a Grand Prize package:

--A copy of A Passion Most Pure
--A copy of A Passion Redeemed signed by Julie!
--A 3.5 bag of Boston baked beans (this is a candy, fyi, if you didn't know!)
--A $15 Starbucks gift card so you can lose yourself in a good book!

And two additional people will win copies of A Passion Redeemed!


Again, go forth and enter!

End of Summer Book Give-Away

Florinda at the 3 R's is having a huge book give-away at her site. She has them listed into 4 different groups:

Book Bag #1
The Monster of Florence, by Douglas Preston (nf, hc)
Miscarriage of Justice, by Justice "Kip" Gayden (f, hc)

Book Bag #2
A Rose by the Door, by Deborah Bedford (f, pb)
Remember Me, by Deborah Bedford (f, pb)
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not, by Trish Ryan (nf, hc)

Book Bag #3
Child 44, by Tom Rob Smith (f, hc)
Close, by Martina Cole (f, hc)

Book Bag #4
Made in the U.S.A., by Billie Letts (f, hc)
Off Season, by Anne Rivers Siddons (f, hc)

(f=fiction, nf=nonfiction, hc=hardcover, pb=paperback)
And I'll throw in the "book bag," too, although it may really be a re-usable grocery bag.

Click on her link above and here's what you do:

Leave a comment on this post AND state which book bag(s) you're interested in. You may enter for more than one bag, but can't win more than one. Please include your e-mail if it's not readily available on your blog or profile. Even if you don't have your own blog, you must leave a comment - no e-mail entries will be accepted!

For TWO additional entries, mention the giveaway in a post on your blog and link back here. (Be sure to let me know you've done so!)

The deadline for entry is Friday, September 5. Winners will be chosen at random, one for each book bag. Winners will be announced here and contacted by e-mail.
If there are no takers for a book bag, its contents will be donated to the Friends of the Library bookstore.

So, go forth and enter!

And The Winner Is ...

Thanks to all of you, my first book give-away contest was a success! I had a total of 39 people enter with almost 3/4 of those getting an extra entry because they answered the question I asked - thank you everyone! In the interest of fair play, everyone's name was put into a hat (literally, my hubby's baseball hat) and my 16 year old daughter pulled out the winning name.

Drumroll please .....

And the winner is:

leggogal

Congratulations!! Leggogal email me with your mailing address and I'll get Twilight in the mail ASAP.

I did ask a question for people who wanted an extra entry in the contest: Which of my book reviews has been your favorite? Here is a list of the top book reviews you have enjoyed:

--The Last Lecture (8)
--Breaking Dawn (5)
--The Neverending Story (3)
--Alice in Wonderland (2)
--Feather Crowns (2)
--New Moon (2)
--The Outsider (2)
--Are You There Vodka, It's Me Chelsa (2)

Again, I would like to thank everyone who entered this contest and thank you so much for visiting Bobbi's Book Nook! It's bloggers like you that keep me interested!

Book Bloggers Appreciation Week

My Friend Amy will be holding a Book Bloggers Appreciation Week in September. Check out the rules then go sign up!

Book Bloggers: You work hard. You read books, you write reviews, you maintain relationships with your readers, publicists, and authors. You are constantly running to the post office to mail your giveaways and participating in carnivals to help boost traffic. You sometimes want to faint when you see the size of your TBR pile, but faithfully you read. And you do it because you love it. Book blogging is for most a hobby. But it's a hobby that takes a lot of work and time. It's a labor of love.

I've been blogging for three years but only really got into book blogging in the last year. I have found, without a doubt, that book bloggers are the kindest, most open minded, and supportive group of bloggers on the internet. With book blogging, it's about community and a love for the written word.

The Readers: We love you! You don't have a blog, but you read our reviews and share your thoughts with us. You enter our giveaways and click on our Amazon associates link. We do this for you and appreciate your readership. We hope you'll join in the fun and festivities of BBAW! (we'll have a special contest just for you!)

Book Blogger Appreciation Week: Acknowledging the hard work of book bloggers and their growing impact on book marketing and their essential contribution to book buzz in general, I am excited to announce the first Book Blogger Appreciation Week. Think of it as a retreat for book bloggers and a chance for us to totally nerd out over books together. And of course, shower each other with love and appreciation.

Register: In order to experience the maximum impact of the week, I invite you to register your participation (just like a retreat)!
To register, just send an email to bookbloggerappreciationweekATgmailDOTcom with your blog url and what you consider your niche...i.e, general book blog, classics blog, personal blog with a healthy dose of books, YA books blog, etc. Then, add one of the two buttons at the bottom of this post to your sidebar. If you are a reader (no blog) just send an email announcing your plans to follow along.
Why bother? If you register, you will be added to a book blog directory which will exist long after this week is over. Additionally, you will receive one raffle entry into the daily giveaways during BBAW here at My Friend Amy.

Awards: Oh yes, there will be awards. The Oscars of Book Blogging. :) Nominations start next week.

Spread the Word: If you are excited about this idea like I am and the other book bloggers who are helping, please consider writing a post on your blog announcing this event and inviting other book bloggers and readers to join.

Help Wanted: If you have a talent for designing buttons (like those below) and would like to donate some of your time and skill to me, please email me personally at mypalamyATgmailDOTcom.

Last Chance for Book Give-Away

Just a reminder to all those interested, tonight at midnight is the deadline for entering my contest to win a copy of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. To be eligible, click here and leave a comment. Good luck to everyone!

Frankenstein

Frankenstein was written in 1818 by British author, Mary Shelley.

Those who know Frankenstein only from movies and television, may well be surprised to read the original book by Mary Shelley. Indeed, one may well look back to the cover to see if the book is in fact Frankenstein because the first pages consist of messages from an R. Walton to his sister concerning his expedition to the northern polar regions.

Victor Frankenstein appears as a wretched creature stranded in icey waters and rescued by a passing ship. After he is rescued, he tells his incredible story to Walton, who in turn preserves the story in writing.

Frankenstein reminisces about his happy childhood, particularly the close relationship between himself and his "cousin" Elizabeth, and then explains how his interest in discredited natural philosophy led him to create a living man of his own design. The creature is a hideous, misshapen, giant of a man who so disgusted Frankenstein upon his awakening that he fled his laboratory and residence.

The creation process - it should be noted - in no way involves an elaborate machine powered by lightning such as is portrayed in the movies. In fact, beyond naming the chemicals involved, we are told nothing of the process. For two years, Frankenstein goes about life with a clinging sense of guilt and nervousness, hoping the creature has perished. When his little brother is murdered, though, he returns home and soon discovers that it was the monster who committed the deed. In an isolated mountainous area, the monster appears before him and explains his actions. Although the creature does nothing more than grunt in the movies, the original Frankenstein was possessed of great eloquence and intelligence, and he tells a moving story about his attempts to make a connection with a society that is revolted at the sight of him.

Both creator and created seem to be mirror images of each other in important ways, their fates clearly tied to one another, each soul deserving both blame and pity. There is much about human nature, both good and bad, revealed in the monster's life as well as Frankenstein's. It is unfortunate that modern media have turned Frankenstein's creature into a simple, heartless, mentally deficient monster for the sake of scares and laughs.

This book is a definite "Must Read" for anyone who loves classic literature. Without being graphic and gross, this novel is a complex story full of human pathology and influences.

Book Give-Away Deadline Close

My first book give-away contest is almost over; so far it's been a success. Don't forget to go HERE and sign up to win a paperback copy of Twilight - the contest closes at midnight on Friday, August 22nd. The winner will be announced Monday, August 25th.

Sunday Weekly Round-Up

So far, for the month of August, I've read the following books:

--Feather Crowns by Bobbie Ann Mason; 3 Challenges: 888 (KY Author), Historical Fiction and Southern Author.
--Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer; 4 Challenges: 888 (YA book), TBR, Stephenie Meyer Mini and Recently Published.
--7th Heaven by James Patterson; 4 Challenges: 888 (Title with number), TBR, and Recently Published.
--The Neverending Story by Michael Ende; 2 Challenges: 888 (fantasy book) and Classic.
--Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden; Japanese Literature.
--The Outsider by Ann Gabhart; 2 Challenges: Southern Author and Recently Published.
--Robin Hood by Howard Pyle; Classic Challenge.
--Evernight by Claudia Gray; 888 (fantasy book).
--Dragon's Keep by Janet Lee Carey; 888 (fantasy book).

Also for August, I have had my review of The Outsider published in 2 local papers: The Harrodsburg Herald and The Anderson News. I have been mentioned in someone else's article about Breaking Dawn. I also have several entries in the August Bookworm Carnival, as well as posted book reviews for: Bite and Buffy: Season 8, Vol. 2.

Dragon's Keep

Dragon's Keep by Janet Lee Carey, works for me on so many levels: it's a medieval fantasy written more like historical fiction than high fantasy, it has a sliver of magic and magical creatures - namely dragons - and the world and the characters are so believable.


Rosalind's fate was written in the stars, read by the famous magician, Merlin, over 600 years before she was born. A direct descendant of the Pendragon line, her ancestor, Evaine, was the younger sister of King Arthur and married an outlaw, was banished to Wilde Island and erased from family history, setting Rosalind's destiny in motion. Three things are said of the twenty-first Queen of Wilde Island:

"She shall redeem the name Pendragon. End war with the wave of her hand. And restore the glory of Wilde Island."

Rosalind has been groomed for this prophecy her entire life. Having never met the Prince, what if he did not get along with Rosalind? With the recent dragon attacks on Wilde Island, the military force is depleted, and may not be much help to England in the dragon war.

So, what's the little catch in this wonderful fairy tale? Well, of course, there is the matter of Rosalind's unusual ring finger. Instead of a finger it's a dragon's claw. Her mother keeps the deformity hidden behind golden gloves that Rosie is forced to wear at all times. The problem has become that this disguise won't work when Rosie is married. They MUST find a cure soon. A cure that is made harder to find due to the fact that the healers are never told what the exact problem is. Things are beginning to look bleak.

I would recommend this for teen readers who aren't sure whether they like fantasy. They should give this a try. I enjoyed Dragon's Keep as a wonderful new fantasy tale, another verison of a classic fairy tale.
Rosalind has been groomed for this prophecy her entire life. Having never met the Prince, what if he did not get along with Rosalind? With the recent dragon attacks on Wilde Island, the military force is depleted, and may not be much help to England in the dragon war.

The little catch in this wonderful fairy tale? Well, of course, there is the matter of Rosalind's unusual ring finger. Instead of a finger it's a dragon's claw. Her mother keeps the deformity hidden behind golden gloves that Rosie is forced to wear at all times. The problem has become that this disguise won't work when Rosie is married. They MUST find a cure soon. A cure that is made harder to find due to the fact that the healers are never told what the exact problem is. Things are beginning to look bleak.

I've stopped reading some of the new popular books because they have become carbon copies of existing work. Dragon's Keep does a very good job of sticking with the heroine's struggles and seeing her through to the end. The relationships between the characters is multi-leveled and very realistic. Part fairy tale, part mythology, part legend, all around fantastic! Read it! You'll be glad you did.

Bookworm Carnival

Florinda from The 3R's has the 14th Bookworm Carnival posted on her site. Why don't you head on over and check it out? Yours truly has several entries in this month's carnival. The theme for this one was, "You're Never Too Old" - namely books for children and young adults. Come on, check it out - you know you want to!

100th Post

This is my 100th post - yippee!!! Don't forget that I'm giving away a paperback copy of Stephenie Meyer's wonderful book, Twilight.
Click here to enter. Contest ends August 22nd.

Robin Hood

Who hasn't heard of Robin Hood and his merry band of outlaws in Sherwood Forest? In Robin Hood - written in 1883 by Howard Pyle - you will meet them all - including the powerful Little John, courageous Will Scarlet, musical Allan a Dale, and sly Friar Tuck. Mr. Pyle offers what is probably the most complete and best collection of Robin Hood tales.

The medieval setting is portrayed beautifully, including the vast difference between the upper and lower classes of society, the corruption and greed of the nobility, and the hypocrisy of the medieval Roman Catholic church where religion has degenerated to mere outward rituals. Mr. Pyle shows that the unbalanced social structure inevitably resulted in the oppression of the poor and weak. It is left to Robin Hood and his men to take justice into their own hands, and fight nobly for the cause of the downtrodden.

Mr. Pyle presents Sherwood Forest as a rather glamorous utopian world where feasting and song abound, where it is never winter, and where the ale rarely runs dry. With Robin Hood and company there is never a lack of action, adventure, or for that matter - ale. There is also no end to the accomplishments of muscles and mind, as he and his merry band outwit all comers by sheer physical skill in archery, wrestling, swordmanship, and quarter-staff combat, or by outsmarting them with deceit and disguise. To our delight, Robin's brawn and brains always come out on top at the end.

This book has stood the test of time and deserves respect for that, but it is also engaging even today. Howard Pyle's collection of Robin Hood's merry adventures is a classic that is constantly entertaining and exciting - one that you'll want to own and read over and over!

I have always been fascinated by the legend of Robin Hood and Maid Marian, but my interest has recently been renewed with the BBC television series Robin Hood. Although not true to the works of Howard Pyle, it is a fun 60 minute escape from the world.

The Outsider

The Outsider is a beautiful historical novel - by Kentuckian Ann Gabhart - set in the 1800's in a Shaker community - Pleasant Hill - located near Harrodsburg, Kentucky. Just this alone made me want to read this novel. I live less than 10 miles from the restored Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill and have spent many hours roaming the surrounding hillsides.

In this book, the main character is a young Shaker woman - Gabrielle - who is completely happy living with her Shaker brothers and sisters , living the life of purity and hardwork. That is until an outsider - Dr. Brice Scott - intrudes on their lives and makes his way into her thoughts, and eventually her heart. The Shaker culture and society are so realistic I felt like I was there, like I knew these people. Living so near a restored Shaker village, I have grown up reading and researching the Shaker culture, so this book is very true to the life these religious people lead.

Because the entire story doesn't happen just on the grounds of the Shaker village, readers are given a realistic view of war during this time and historical medical information, in addition to the treatment of strangers to the Shaker village. There are also other glimpses into this disciplined lifestyle, from the demanding hard work to the fanatical religious servies.

This book was a fascinating read and Mrs. Gabhart's flowing prose seemed to leap off the pages and jump straight into your heart. Gabrielle's transformation from the quiet, shy girl into the beautiful young woman is presented with sobering details and fleeting views from the past.

I recommend this book, not only as a work of historical fiction surrounding the lives of the Shakers, but as a delightful work of pure unadultered literature. The Outsider is a worthy find among the multitude of fiction and genre books being released today.

Book Give-Away to Celebrate 100th Post

Because I am fast approaching my 100th post on this blog, I have decided to offer my first contest. I'm giving away a paperback copy of Stephenie Meyer's first book, Twilight. If you want to be entered in this contest, just leave me a comment - it's that simple. For an extra entry, tell me which of my book reviews you have enjoyed so far.

That's it, that's all you have to do. The contest will be open until August 22, 2008.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who visits Bobbi's Book Nook, and especially those who leave comments. I appreciate each and every one of you.

Good luck!

The Neverending Story

The Neverending Story is by Michael Ende (1979), and asks the question,

"Have you ever held a storybook in your hand and spared a moment's thought for the characters waiting inside?"

Typically as soon as you start to read a story the characters spring into life, fully formed and they live in their own world, with their own past, present and future.

But what happens if you don't bother to read the book? What happens if everyone gives up reading and talking about the stories? If everyone forgets about the stories, do the characters die? Do they just disappear into nothingness?

That is what this book is about. Our hero is Bastian Balthazar Bux. He is a rather timid, bookish boy who is unhappy at school because he is always being teased. One rainy morning he takes refuge from his tormentors in a second hand bookshop, and there he first beholds a book which he feels he absolutely must have, to read:

The Neverending Story

Bastian can't buy it, and so he steals the book, hides himself away in the attic of his own school, and settles down to read the same story that we are reading: The Neverending Story.

We enter the realm of Fantastica, where things are going badly wrong. The realm is being swallowed up, slowly but surely, by advancing puddles of nothingness. The diverse inhabitants of Fantastica send out messengers to their Childlike Empress who lives in the Ivory Tower to see if she can help or advise. Alas, she cannot, it seems, because she is also dying from a mysterious illness. She can only be cured if a human will visit Fantastica and endow her with a new name.

The stage is set. The Childlike Empress sends her hero, a boy named Atreyu, out on a mission to search for just such a human. Atreyu's task is a difficult one. He must launch himself off on such a wild and demanding adventure to try and draw the reader, Bastian, back into the realm of Fantastica! Atreyu succeeds, and Bastian is delighted to find himself suddenly transported into Fantastica.

You might think that that is the end of the story, but in fact it is just the beginning. Because, once there, Bastian has such a marvellous time that he does not want to leave. And in the end, he finds that he very nearly can't leave. He needs all the help he can get from his friends in Fantastica.

If you enjoy fantasy and roaming around totally new worlds populated by the outlandish and bizarre, then I'm sure you will enjoy this book! It was one of my children's favorite books and I enjoy revisiting this amazing world again and again.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, Vol. 2

No Future For You

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, Volume 2, consists of issues 6 through 10, and mainly centers around the character of Faith. Faith is written brilliantly and evil, and the art is wonderful.

The story has Faith going up against a rogue slayer, which has her reflecting a lot on her own evil days. Through flashbacks, Vaughan makes strong parallels between Faith's past and the main action of this story. Vaughan doesn't let us forget about the Scoobies, who are dealing with their own problems back at the Scottish castle. Another big plus about this story is that the Big Bad of the season is revealed on the final page of #9 (the conclusion to the "No Future for You" arc).

Also included in this book is a one-shot called "Anywhere But Here" - written by Joss Whedon). Artist Cliff Richards - the artist who drew many of the old Buffy comics - takes on art duties for this one issue, which shows Buffy and Willow having a very revealing heart-to-heart conversation ... while they go up against a demon that causes reality to buckle around it. This issue alone is worth the price, because not only is it the best example of Joss's writing, but it's also pays tribute to a disabled fan of the show who won a Buffy contest.

Overall, this isn't only a book that every Buffy fan should have, it's something that every fan of graphic storytelling should own. It's a perfect example of why this is such a great medium and how the comic book has evolved. It packs an emotional wallop, it's true to the heart of the show, and it's written by two great writers.

Breaking Dawn

****SPOILER ALERT****
So the wonderful world of Twilight has to come to an end. This isn't what I expected ... but that doesn't mean it wasn't good. I went into this book wanting two things - that Bella and Edward get married and having Bella change into a vampire. I got both. So I'm satisfied with that.

I will admit that the book isn't perfect, but it is a nice ending to the saga. Does it have flaws? Yes. Could it have been better? Yes. But if you read it for the enjoyment alone, forgetting any fanfiction you may have read or any preconceived notions of what "should" happen, it is an enjoyable read.

I was totally absorbed throughout this book. It was a complete, 12 hour roller coaster ride of feelings and I left it pretty satisfied. It's a mythological fiction, after all, and as such, Ms. Meyer took liberties with the qualities that her characters have in their lives. Fine. It's her story and she has that right.

I like the way Ms. Meyer divided the book into 3 separate books. The first book is from Bella's point of view. We have the wonderful wedding and a romantic honeymoon. By chapter 5, the deed was - if you know what I mean - and by chapter 7 there were the first signs of morning sickness. I did not see that plot line coming. Many people have written bad reviews - mainly centering around Bella's pregnancy - but I just saw it as a story arc I had not thought of.

The second book is from Jacob's point of view and I loved the range of emotions this part of the book took. From Jacob's rage and hatred of Edward, Rose and the rest of the Cullens to his eventual understanding of the situation and desire to work with the family for the good of Bella.

I did wonder why Dr. Cullens didn't think of giving Bella blood before he did - you would think a doctor would think of that, especially a vampire doctor. As far as the pregnancy complications, as the mother of 3 daughters it was killing me that Bella was keeping all this from her parents. Even if she is of age, I thought her parents should have been involved.

During Jacob's part of the story, I thought for sure the underlying tension between Jacob and Leah was going to lead to him finally imprinting on her, especially when Leah burst in and started ranting to Bella. But I guess I should have known that if one werewolf could imprint on a child, then the possiblity of Jacob imprinting on a baby was very real.

When we returned to book 3 - again from Bella's point of view - I was also taken aback when Bella hunted for the first time. For some reason, I just can't see Bella killing anything, even to quench her thirst. I felt for sure she would end up drinking human blood - from blood bank donations - like she did when she was pregnant. So it was kind of shocking to me when she made her first kill.

I was distressed when Alice ran away with Jasper. I really didn't think she had abandoned the family, but I wasn't sure. I was disappointed there wasn't as much a focus on Alice in this book as compared to the other three books.

I believe that this book was about fighting for what you believe in; your family, your children, your way of life, and life itself - even if you have to die for what you believe in. Is this book unrealistic? Absolutely - that's why its fantasy. But if you don't put so much stock in "what it should be" and just read it for the fun of it, you will enjoy it. Yes, this book wrapped this fairytale love story with a neat bow, but didn't we all want a happy ending?

Like many, I'm sad to see the story end, but we can all use our imaginations to continue the saga in our own minds, knowing that Bella and Edward live happily ever after. Overall I liked the book ... and not just because I'm a huge fan of Stephenie Meyer. I got my happy ending and most of my questions were answered. As a stand alone book, I probably wouldn't rate this book as high as the others, but as an accompliment and ending to the official saga I think it lived up to the hype.

This book meet the requirements for several of my book challenges:

Book Two - Jacob

After taking a 3 hour nap, I just finished Book Two - Jacob. OMG - it's almost impossible to put down! I did not see that coming! Now I'm refreshed and ready to continue with Book Three - Bella. Later ...

Book One - Bella

Just finished Book One - Bella's story - and I'm ready to start on Book Two - Jacob's story. The deed is done, but what an unexpected turn of events! I've stopped of a bathroom break and a drink refill, then I'm off to my comfy reading chair again. It's good I've got a fan blowing on me - sustainablity and global warming be damned right now! - because it's keeping me cool. I've already cried once, but I'm sure there's more tears to come. Later ...

'Twilight' fans bitten by the vampire bug

To read an article on Breaking Dawn by Rich Copley of the Lexington Herald-Leader, in Lexington, Kentucky, go to Kentucky.com. Here is a quote from the article by yours truly - Enjoy!

'Twilight' fans bitten by the vampire bug
Stephenie Meyer’s series has infected readers with undying thirst for dark, romantic creations
By Rich Copley rcopley@herald-leader.com

Readers such as Bobbi Rightmyer, 46, came to the series with a love of fanged lit. She began reading ­vampire books when she picked up Stephen King's Salem's Lot at age 11.

”It really took the ­vampire legend in a ­different direction,“ says Rightmyer, secretary at Harrodsburg's United Presbyterian Church. ”They can go out in the ­daytime, lead normal lives, and there's the idea of ­vegetarian vampires.“

(This quote is copyrighted by Kentucky.com and Rich Copley)

A Break in Blogging for Breaking Dawn

This is the weekend I've been looking forward to for months. Breaking Dawn will be released at the witching hour tonight and I hope I'm curled up reading by 01:00 a.m. This means I'm taking a tiny break from blogging this weekend so I can read - uninterrupted!

Right now, I'm off to take a nap so I'll be rested and refreshed before this marathon reading session begins. With the exception of my Robin Hood post on Rightmyer Rants, I probably won't be blogging again until Monday. Hope to see you all then!

Feather Crowns

*Feather crowns are the circle of feathers formed on a feather pillow where a dead person's head has been.*






Bobbie Ann Mason's wonderful novel, Feather Crowns, is set in the early 1900's in Hopewell, Kentucky. It begins with the new century prophecies of a world-ending earthquake. People are flocking to church revivals in preparation for Judgment Day, searching for signs from God.

In February 1900, Christianna "Christie" Wheeler - wife of James Wheeler and already the mother of three - delivers quintuplets, a sensational occurrence that brings short-lived fame to Hopewell and changes her life forever. During the long delivery, Christie heard the midnight train whistling as it travelled up from Memphis. The passing train is constant throughout the novel, its whistle the familiar sound Christie listens to night after night.

Because of their "unusual" family, Christie and James are instant celebrities. The train begins making daily stops in Hopewell, bringing strangers from all over the country to peer at these miracle babies. But these frequent stops quickly nose-dive into the grotesque underside of carnivals and freak shows.

Ms. Mason's attention to the microscopic detail of everyday life is riveting. Along with the authentically colorful, often humorous dialogue, there are wonderful descriptions of churning and nursing and chopping tobacco. There are also the subtle reminders of life's fragility and the uncertainty about what lies ahead.

Throughout the book, Christie frequently expresses the same thought:

"People had to make something out of the unusual. . . . It had to mean something. There's so much in the world that nobody understands."

Ms. Mason shows that it is more than possible to describe events of our lives and in Feather Crowns the life of Christie and her babies is memorable and complete.

Filled with superstition, prophecy and sorrow, this book is not a touchy-feely kind of books. The mortality rate for quints in the early 20th century is extremely low, so the saddness that occurs in the middle of the book is not shocking but it is heartbreaking. The second half of the book with filled with the cruelties and strangeness I never thought possible in a civilized culture.

Feather Crowns is at once riviting and heartwarming and is a crowning accomplisment in a long line of wonderful books by Bobbie Ann Mason. If you enjoy period pieces or historical novels - especially surrounding rural life in 1900s Kentucky - then this is a great book to add to any TBR list.