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6 June 2014
Feature and Follow is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. Head over to their blogs to check them out.
Feature and Follow is exactly what it says… a weekly feature of two chosen blogs, and a question or a task for us to participate in.
The aim is to get new followers to your blog and, of course, follow other blogs out there and get to know other bloggers, browse their blogs, leave comments and find stuff which interests you. For me, apart from books of course, this is what book blogging is all about - connect with others and chat about our favourite hobby.
And guess what??? This week, I am featured! Yeah :)
Welcome everyone to my blog - take a look around. And thanks to Parajunkee and Alison.
This weeks question:
What are your non-book guilty pleasures? Like TV shows, food, websites, hobbies, etc.
I work full time, and sometimes carry a pager as well, so often there simply isn't enough for anything else apart from reading and blogging. I do spend a lot of time on my laptop! My family also consist of 1 hubby, 3 children (20, 18 and 15 years), 1 dog and 5 cats so it's never boring in the Farooqi household.
I also enjoy knitting and cross stitch needlecraft - have to be in the mood for it though. I like walking (power walking and rambling).
I don't actually watch a lot of TV any more. About a year ago or so, the TV in my study broke down, and I kind of didn't get to replace it and got used to not having one. Now I don't even miss it. We do have a TV in the lounge where my husband and the children mostly watch. I know it sounds silly, but I don't have the patience to sit in front of the TV and only watch - if I do, I'll take a book or the laptop and kind of watch TV as well. I'm not a gaming person at all - just doesn't tempt me at all, not even the simplest games i.e. Solitaire.
Food? Yes, I am a Food Lover. Sweet, savoury - anything. That's why I'm a serial diet club attender :)
Interview Questions:
When did you start blogging?
What is your favorite part of book blogging?
What type of books do you mainly blog about?
What is your favorite book(s)?
Donna Tartt The Secret History
Kazuo Ishiguro Never Let me Go
What has been the best thing that has happened to you because of book blogging?
It feels good to receive emails from publisher, asking me if they can send me books to read. It seems pretty obvious- but for me, it is still amazing that people want to hear my opinion. The Internet and my blog give me the chance to chat books to just about anyone, in any place around the world, which is just great.
----
Welcome again on my blog and Happy Reading everyone
Peggy x
The rules are all explained here in detail by Parajunkee.
5 June 2014
Title
| The Reader |
Author
| Bernard Schlink |
Publisher
| Diogenes |
Publication Date
|
1995 (in Germany)
|
Pages
| 206 |
Genre
| Novel |
Blurb:
Originally published in Switzerland and gracefully translated into English by Carol Brown Janeway, The Reader is a brief tale about sex, love, reading and shame in post-war Germany. Michael Berg is 15 when he begins a long, obsessive affair with Hanna, an enigmatic older woman. He never learns very much about her and when she disappears one day, he expects never to see her again. But, to his horror, he does. Hanna is a defendant in a trial related to Germany's Nazi past and it soon becomes clear that she is guilty of an unspeakable crime. As Michael follows the trial, he struggles with an overwhelming question: what should his generation do with its knowledge of the Holocaust? "We should not believe we can comprehend the incomprehensible, we may not compare the incomparable... Should we only fall silent in revulsion, shame, and guilt? To what purpose?"
My reviewMichael Berg is the narrator of this book. He tells his story in the form of flashbacks and it all starts when he is 15 years old. He becomes very ill with yellow fever and when he is ill in the street, a woman helps him to clean him up. Michael is drawn to her and discovers she is a 36 year old tram driver. Recovered from Yellow fever, Michael goes to her to thank her and when he sees her undressing, he becomes aroused and runs off. But he visits her again, and the two start an affair. Hannah asks Michael to read for her. One day, Hannah has vanished after seeing him in a local swimming pool with his peers.
He will see again, seven years later. Michael is now a law student and attends a criminal trial of former Nazi war criminals. To his horror, he discovers that Hannah is one of the defendants, a former guard in a concentration camp. He will discover more secrets about Hannah.
The book received a lot of acclaim. I have to say while I loved the 1st part of the book, I did start to struggle with it in the 2nd part (the trial). Somehow, I was expecting more to happen with those two? I can't even say what, it is clear that a reconciliation between those two was obviously completely out of question by this stage and Michael is now interested only in the criminal case against Hannah to answer some fundamental questions about guilt and Holocaust. In the 3rd part, however, it becomes clear that Michael is still deeply effected by everything which has happened between Hannah and him and at the trail. He seeks reconciliation but can't change whats happened. He wants to be there for Hannah whilst in prison and after her release, but we can guess that there is never going to be a happy end.
The two main characters - Michael and Hannah, are extremely well drawn. While the author is very careful not the make the character of Hannah 'nasty' with all the cliches, she is still not a very likeable character and even when she is with Michael, I just feel she is somewhat cold and calculating. At the same time, there were times when I felt sorry for her. Michael is young and excitable and than grows up to be a sensible young man who questions life and learns to make decisions.
A book which will make you think, just don't expect romance in the traditional sense.
I read the German original of this book which I purchased via a book club.
About the author:
Bernhard Schlink was born in Germany in 1944. A professor of law at the University of Berlin and a practising judge, he is the author of the major international best-selling novel The Reader as well as several prize-winning crime novels. He lives in Bonn and Berlin.
4 June 2014
itle
| The Body |
Author
| Stephen King |
Publisher
| Viking |
Publication Date
|
1982
|
Pages
| |
Genre
| Novella |
Blurb:
Gordie Lanchance and his three friends are always ready for adventure. So when a boy dies out in the forest, it's a chance to see something they have never seen in their lives: a dead body. But for the four boys, their journey will teach them as much about life as about death. As they face the dangers on their way, they begin to learn what it is to grow up - and nothing will ever be the same for them again.
This is one of four novellas published in King's book Different Seasons. The book is also available (see below) as Penguin Readers - simplified texts designed in association with Longman (educational publisher) to provide a step-by-step approach to the joys of reading for pleasure, also given an introduction and activity material. (above info taken from the book)
My review
Gordie Lanchanche is the narrator of this story, and he tells us about what's happened when he was 12, nearly thirteen years, in 1960, growing up in (the fictional) Maine town of Castle Rock.
Four boys go to look for a supposed dead body by the railway tracks. Gordie, Teddy, Vern and Chris hang out together, and each have their own problems. This will be an adventure they won't forget. Even though they go and will eventually find the dead body, it is not a horror story but about 'growing up'.
It is one of the books which I truly struggle to review. At a basic level, it's a story about four boys going on an adventure, but that doesn't even start to describe the depth of this story. Friendship, bereavement, bullying, mental health, feeling lost in the world, finding oneself, being born in the family of 'no gooders' and trying to better yourself. Beautifully written, it stayed with me for a long time. The ending is very poignant, and for me, has one of the best lines every written in book history:
“ I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anybody?”
(this quote is from the movie and slightly paraphrased from the book)
Many will be more familiar with the movie adaptation 'Stand by Me' - see above picture - and for me, this is the only movie adaption where I can say that the adaptation is almost better than the actual book. Sorry Mr King.
3 June 2014
This is how it works: Write down either the first paragraph of a book your are currently reading / intending to read or read in the past and share with us. I do like a good opening!
My current read is a historic novel which I received for review. I'm currently reading Book 1 of 3 of The Kingsland Series - This is the House by Deborah Hill.
Blurb:
Hannah Deems renounced her Quaker community when she married. As a result, there was no one to whom she could turn when, by the end of The War for Independence, she found herself widowed and destitute. Then Seth Adams came by; he offered to take her with him, back to his place on Cape Cod. An unknown entity, at least Adams was willing to help. Hannah should have known that going with him would be, in fact, a bargain that included her body. But she must somehow provide for her little daughter, and so she accepted her fate.
Thus it was that Molly became known as the illegitimate child of a reprobate, consigned to a future not unlike that of her mother. In order to free herself, she must ensnare a man of humble origin who will accept her, love her, and whose successful career will help her to surmount her mother's shame. That man is Elijah Merrick, a young and enterprising sea captain who understands that in wooing and winning her, he will have to defend her from his mother, fight his Cape town's determination to ostracize her, and force the Church of the Standing Order, Congregational, to accept her. In this he succeeds --
But he cannot defeat Molly's attraction to Isaac Warden…
It was a time of tumult and fear, of mourning and tears. Many men died in those years, and many despaired. But finally, the war for independence from England, in which America rarely won a battle, was finished.
From one village to the next, acres the farmlands in the hills of New England, over the gentle rises and falls of the Delaware Valley and the Shenandoah, onto the sprawling piedmont of the Southlands, the news of it spread, and thanksgiving rose up. Men embraced, and women wept the gentle, cleansing tears of joy. The farmer might return to his land, the fisher might return to his nets, and a man might speak his mind without committing treason. The old questions, the old loyalties, were laid to rest, and men turned to the business of the new nation, a gathering of sovereign states affirming their right to freedom and self governance.
Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should be reading.
These are the rules :
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
From This is the House by Deborah Hill (Kingsland Book 1)
"Yes?"
The one word was spoken clearly, her voice perfectly suited to her face and the slight but well-formed figure hidden beneath her grey dress and its white, somewhat rumpled apron.
Elijah Merrick felt the blood in his veins stop coursing. From his sandy hair to his late booted feet, he felt his very life drain away.
Do you like historic romance novels?
Peggy x
2 June 2014
Title
| Beginner's Urdu Script |
Author
| Richard Delacy |
Publisher
| Teach Yourself Books - Hodder Headline |
Publication Date
|
2001
|
Pages
| 122 |
Genre
| Language Learning |
Blurb:
Do you want to learn the basics of reading and writing Urdu script? Would you like to be able to read Urdu signs, notices, advertisements and headlines? Are you planning to work in or visit an Urdu-speaking country?
Richard Delacy has written a step-by-step introduction to reading and writing simple Urdu. This book features:
- an introduction to the structure of Urdu words and expressions
- an easy and accessible approach to learning the alphabet
- hints of authentic handwriting skills
- practical examples from real-life situations
- useful and functional vocabulary
My review
This book does indeed keep what it promises on the title if you can put in a bit of work and time to literally 'Teach yourself'.
I started to learn Urdu as this is the mother tongue of my husband, and we visit Urdu-speaking countries . My personal experience is that if you would like to learn Urdu language, you ought to learn the script. It may look very complicated, but trust me, once you got the basics, it is actually quite straight forward. I don't read Urdu every day, in fact, I haven't read it for a year or so, but can still easily recognise the letters.
The book starts off, as expected, with an introduction of Urdu script which may well go over your head at the beginning. But again, don't be put off by this, it will get better.The next section is the alphabet, and you will reference back to this again and again, so this page will need bookmarking! After that, 11 units will explain all letters in detail, grouped into similar letters. The writing of the letters is explained - and that is the writing as a single letter and also as a joining letter. I can only say it again, it will became easier as you go along and once you understood the concept of single letter / joined letter at the beginning, middle, end it will become easy. Pronunciation is explained in English words, but it may be best to have it spoken to you by a native speaker. Every Unit also contains writing and reading practice. The appendix contains numbers, dates, days of the week, months.
The book does have some vocabulary, but this is more to give an example of the writing rather than to learn vocabulary, so for serious learning, you will need an additional book. This book deals with the script.
The print of the letters is large and easy to see. I had a bit of trouble keeping the paperback book open so used a bulldog clip.
Title
| This changes my family and my life forever (The Spanners Vol II) |
Author
| Sally Ember |
Publisher
| Bantam Press |
Publication Date
|
01 April 2014
|
Pages
| 524 |
Genre
| Sci-Fi |
Blurb:(from Goodreads)
Dr. Clara Ackerman Branon, Ph.D., 58, the Chief Communicator / liaison between Earth and the Many Worlds Collective (MWC), a consortium of planet and star systems all around the multiverse, has 6 nieces (ages 2 – 24), 6 nephews (ages 2 months – 39), and one adult son (38) five years APC (After Public Contact). Clara’s son, Zephyr, and her nieces and nephews discuss Transition, the period immediately after Earth is invited to join the MWC, and the many changes occurring in these first five years. Narrated partially by Moran Ackerman, Chief of the Psi-Warriors and top Earther among the OverSeers covert and Special Operations (OSOps) division (and one of Clara's nephews), Moran provides more details about the Fragmenters, Trenchers, Psi-Warriors, Psi-Defiers, and OverSeers' Excellent Skills Program psi training. "This Changes My Family and My Life Forever" is filled with stories about Clara’s family, Moran's involvement in the OverSeers, Zephyr and his cousins' points of view on the Transition. Learn more about Clara’s early life and her involvement as the Chief Communicator and what Earth’s Transition is like for them, their families and friends. Does Clara's love for Epifanio Dang prevail in any multiverse timelines?
My review
Clara Ackerman Branon is back, and earths transition continues.
I actually read Vol I and Vol II back to back, so for me it was like I'm reading one continuous book. I think though that one would need to read Vol I really to fully understand what is going to happen.
In this volume, we get introduced more to Clara's family (they are a large family!) who all get interviewed about how they experienced it all (when the news first broke, what changed for them, any difficulties, what are they planning for the future). One of the main narrator is Clara's nephew Moran, a Rabbi before transition, who will now become the Chief in the fight against those who resist and fight the transition. There is also more info about Clara, snippets about her life from young woman to past transition. We learn about her jobs, relationships with both man and woman and in communes, what does she listen to, read etc. Though I'm still confused about her relationship with her lover / not lover Epifanio - but hey, more volumes are to come.
One thing I like very much about the Spanners Series is the message that we can all live together in peace, learn from each other, be there for each other. All differences (religious, racial, gender, and even between species and inhabitants of other planets) are overcome. I mean, how cool would that be to be able to communicate with animals - and not in a jokey, Eddie Murphy Dr Dolittle kind of way, but accept them and their needs / interests as equal to humans. And those people who resist change (yes, there will always be those, even if it is clear that the change is for the better) will not be eliminated, but gently persuaded to recognise at what is best for them.
Another thing I really like is the cover artwork and I hope the author doesn't change the cover art throughout the series, that would be a shame. It's pretty and imaginative. Once you have read the first few chapters and read about the first encounter with 'The Band', have a look at the cover again and you will go 'ahhhh'.
I very much enjoyed this series and the somewhat unusual structure of the book with interviews and different narrators. It is blurring the lines between fiction and non-fiction. One of the great plus for me was that abbreviations or foreign language used (one of the main characters is Hispanic) are always explained in brackets straight away. Because of the non-fiction style, it does not halt the flow of the story at all, but is in fact very helpful. On the minus side, as there are several of Clara's relatives are interviewed, it can sometimes be a bit 'samey' at some stage. But the writing is easy to read, so it is not a big deal and I found myself skipping over a few pages.
A satisfying continuation from Volume I - let's see what's coming up in the next volume.
I received this book from the author in return for an honest review.
About the author:(from Goodreads)
Sally Ember, Ed.D., has been passionate about writing since she was nine years old. She’s won prizes for her poetry, stories, songs and plays. She began meditation in her teens. Now, Sally delights fans of paranormal and romance by blurring the lines between fact and fiction in a multiverse of multiple timelines, often including exciting elements of utopian science fiction and Buddhism. Born Jewish on the cusp of Leo and Virgo, Sally's life has been infused with change. Currently, she lives alone and meditates, writes, swims, reads and plays piano in northern California.
The Spanners Series is getting great reviews for Volume I, This Changes Everything.Excerpts, reviews, interviews and more onhttp://www.sallyember.com. Volume II in TSS ,This Changes My Family and My Life Forever,in pre-orders @$1.99 through 6/8 and releases 6/9/14 @$3.99, and the 8 others are in progress.
Her Boards on Pinterest share a LOT more about her writing process, the series and her life:pinterest.com/sallyember.
In her "other" professional life, Sally has worked as an educator and upper-level, nonprofit manager in colleges, universities and private nonprofits for over thirty-five years in New England (every state), New Mexico and the San Francisco Bay Area (where she now lives). Sally has a BA in Elementary Education, a Master's (M.Ed.) and a doctorate in education (Ed.D.).(less)
1 June 2014
This is is Meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer and here are the rules.
It is your chance to re-cap your bookish week, what did your review last week, any new purchases, what will be coming up in your blog next week or generally anything you feel you would like to share with the blogging community.
So, what did I do last week?
Well, not a lot happened here in SE England this week. It was raining a lot, almost every day, and not just small drizzles either but great big downpours.
I've been thinking of all of you going to BEA and can't pretend that I'm not jealous :) If anyone knows of a similar book convention in the UK? I know there are a few specialist ones such as comic books, sci-fi etc, but is there one which is a 'universal' one? If anyone knows, do let me know. Or anywhere else in Europe? (May have to convince hubby to go on a holiday to that place just at that time when a convention is on … oh the coincidence!)
On the blogging front… I've been thinking to put a new feature on my blog to talk about my job in the Coroner's Office. I was thinking of maybe doing a weekly or bi-weekly feature. Not so much to chat about what I do, but for the purpose of anyone writing crime novels or even for people generally interested in what the Coroner does. I couldn't talk about specific cases for confidentiality, of course. But one of the things, for example, I get asked so often is about 'the time of death' - i.e. how can we tell at what time someone died (we can't!). This would mean maybe publicising my blog more to the crime writing community. Hmm. Lets see, nothing decided yet.
On the blog last week
Reviews:
- This changes everything by Sally Ember (The Spanners Vol I)
- How to write for magazines … in one weekend by Diana Cambridge (non-fiction)
- Pet Sematary by Stephen King
- The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen (which I had read a while ago and forgotten how much I liked it)
- Newbooks Magazine Issue 81
Memes / Features:
- I have signed up for Mental Health Awareness Month with Leah @ Uncorked Thoughts
- First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday and Teaser Tuesdays: The Shock after the Fall by Nathan Filer
This Changes My Family and Me Forever by Sally Ember, Vol II of The Spanner's Series
Start
This is the House by Deborah Hill (The Kingsland Series I)
Around the Blogosphere
- Amanda @ Go Book Yourself: Should bloggers have a schedule?
- Kimba @ Caffeinated Bookreviewer: her regular feature How they heck did you do that? Let's talk sidebars
- Anna @ Buried under Romance: How to you choose?
In the bookish news this week in the UK:
Agree?
Added to my stash
Received for review consideration:
Darsky's Resistance by Michael Rudnicki
Purchased:
Went to the local shopping mall with my daughter this week and had a stop-over in Waterstones, of course!
- The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer. I wanted to read it for a while and than my daughter picked it up and asked if she can have it (she is interested in mental health) and she didn't need to ask me twice. We will now read this both for Mental Health Month and if I can persuade her, will get her to write a review as well.
- A Brief Guide to Stephen King by Paul Simpson. Now I couldn't really walk past this one, could I?
- Nothing - a non-fiction book published by New Scientist on the concept of, well, nothing-ness, emptiness, in the cosmic, universe kind of sense. Another book my daughter asked me to get her as she finds it fascinating. For me, it's too much science I'm afraid. But did you notice… if she asks me to buy her books, I have a VERY low threshold!
This is what I'm planning for next week on the blog
Reviews:
Teach Yourself Urdu Script by Richard Delacy
The Body by Stephen King
The Reader by Bernard Schlink
Memes / Features:
First Chapter First Paragraph Intro hosted by Diane at Bibliophile by the Sea and Teaser Tuesday at MizB at Should Be Reading:
This is the House by Deborah Hill (Kingsland Series I)
Feature and Follow hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read: this week's question:
What are your non-book guilty pleasures? Like TV shows, food, websites, hobbies, etc
Have a great week my bookish friends
Peggy x
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