Beautiful Malice

Having met Rebecca James through the wonderful world of writing blogs, I was more than a little excited to get my hands on a copy of her book. It didn't disappoint. James kept me turning the pages from the beginning. She had an interesting premise, peopled with unique characters who jumped off the page.

Katherine Patterson's secret lies at the heart of this story. She buries her past and begins anew by changing her name and moving to a new city, but eventually her past catches up with her. Her baby sister, Rachel, was tragically and violently murdered, and Katherine bears the burden of guilt, believing it was her fault. When Alice--beautiful and popular--befriends Katherine, she starts to think life can be normal and lets her guard down. But Alice has a secret too.

The story unfolds in terrifying ways, and although I guessed Alice's secret halfway through, it didn't deter me from reading faster to find out how it all ended.

Beautiful Malice explores the dark side of friendship, and although I haven't experienced a relationship this toxic, I could definitely identify with the familiar feeling of unease that Alice creates throughout. I highly recommend this psychological thriller. You can pick up a copy of Beautiful Malice in hardback on Amazon or in paperback here. Enjoy!

Reading Bees

Caroline Smailes' Like Bees to Honey was a haunting, thought-provoking look at one mother's struggle with the loss of her child. The book follows Nina Robinson, a woman born in Malta, who left to attend college in England, where she found love, but also loss. Nina falls pregnant while unmarried and in college, disgracing her traditional Maltese Catholic family, so her father shuns her. When she returns years later with her husband and young son, hoping for a reprieve, the family disowns her, unable to forgive her for shaming them.

After years of estrangement from her family, Nina returns to the island to deal with the recent death of her mother and to finally release her dead son, Christopher. Feeling like she has lost everything--her son, her mother, her culture--she almost loses herself to the vivid spirit world surrounding her. In a hilarious and refreshing turn, Jesus arrives--in the form of a beer-swilling, toenail-painting island rockstar--and guides her back from the brink by helping her understand her guilt over Christopher's death so she can forgive herself. A colorful cast of characters from the spirit world support Jesus in this mission to save Nina, including my favorites: Tilly, an angry, foul-mouthed ghost with unresolved issues, and Elena, Nina's aunt who also left the island for love.

As in previous novels, Smailes plays around with language and visual text to good effect. Rather than distracting, these elements add to the building narrative.

Reading Like Bees to Honey was like a magical trip to an exotic world where the curtain between this world and the next is lifted and what you discover is both familiar and remarkably new. In Smailes' Malta, spirits flock to the island to heal; it is a magical place teeming with centuries of tradition and culture, where the bridge between past, present, and the future beyond intertwine.

Pile of Books

I received more fun mail!


Rebecca James is a very lovely blogging friend, and her debut novel released in May in Australia. Unfortunately, I couldn't get my hands on a copy of the Australian version, so I have been waiting ever so patiently for Rebecca's book to release in the UK. (The US version released later and in hardback.) Lookey what I received:



Huzzah! Isn't it pretty?

While I delved into my final edits, I fell behind on my reading, and now I have a stack to dig into this week, starting with sweet Caroline's Like Bees to Honey and lovely Rebecca's Beautiful Malice. After that, I may have to dive back into the world of Sookie Stackhouse.

This summer is shaping up to be great.
(Psst. Please don't mention that it's already August! *Sticks fingers in ears* Lalala. Argh.)

Busy Bee

Just checking in to say hi since it's been awhile.

*Waves hello*

I'm keeping myself quite busy adding my final revisions, and my perfectionist tendencies mean added time editing every last line of every last chapter again, but I'm so excited to be near the end! Light. End. Tunnel. After I finish, I'm going to bed early and sleeping in late. (Party, party!) No more of this going to bed in the early morning business. (At least for a short time. Once a night owl...)

Since I'm working (nearly) around the clock, I haven't had time for much else, but I'm a sap, so Husband took me to see Letters to Juliet tonight after I squealed over every preview for the last few months. It lived up to my expectations and was the perfect romantic fix. I loved the leading ladies--Vanessa Redgrave was radiant and Amanda Seyfried was adorable. Unfortunately, it made us want to return to Italy. Now that's an idea! In addition, I finally got around to reading the Sookie Stackhouse series, and even though I'm only sneaking in a few pages here and there, I'm on book two, Living Dead in Dallas, and loving it.

Oh, and speaking of Bees, come back on Thursday for a sneak peek at Caroline's fabulous new novel! I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

Reading and Spamming

For some reason, this book kept bringing to mind Portnoy's Complaint, another story about growing up on the fringe of American society. The books are very distinct--the narrators are from different ethnic backgrounds and come from disparate socioeconomic groups--and yet they still speak to universal truths. Love, acceptance, loss, coming of age. This book made me laugh and cry within the span of a page. Junior encounters so much heartbreak, but at the end he holds on to hope and humor. Although...more If you haven't already picked up a copy of Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, I can't recommend it enough. I finished reading last night, and immediately wanted to share it with friends who haven't read it.

For some reason, this book kept bringing to mind Portnoy's Complaint, one of my faves, and another story about growing up on the fringe of American society. The books are very distinct--the narrators are from different ethnic backgrounds and come from disparate socioeconomic groups--and yet they still speak to universal truths. Love, acceptance, loss, coming of age. This book made me laugh and cry within the span of a page. Junior encounters so much heartbreak, but at the end he holds on to hope and humor. Although categorized as YA, Alexie's book will entertain and charm young and old alike.

This morning I sat down to start work on editing (and to post this blog), and was greeted with a spam message in my personal email account...sent from my general email account. Apparently I wanted to share viagra and cheap prescription meds from Canada with every single person I've ever had email contact with. Aren't I lovely?

I use a mac, so I haven't dealt with viruses and other garbage for the last few years, but this one worried me. My virus scan came up clean, which is good, but I don't know whether my account was hacked or whether a spammer stole my address and made it look like the emails were sent from me (though they were in my sent mail...). Still feeling a little on edge. Technology can be so cool, but it sucks that someone can access so much personal information like that.

Attention Span

My reading attention span has been low the past few months. Blame it on holiday busyness, distraction with the novel, and the small pile of research books on my bedside table. Whatever the cause, it bothers me. I go through ebbs and flows in my reading life. Sometimes I devour books, while at others I read slow and steady, but every once in a while I barely read a book a month and even if I love the book, my attention is focused elsewhere. The only way out of this hole--and it is a hole, not reading makes me depressed--is to pick up an absolute page-turner, preferably part of a series so I'm hooked and must continue reading. In the past I've turned to the well-worn pages of familiar books (Harry Potter reengages me every time), but this time I decided to pick up something new.

Last year I received a full series off my wishlist--Philip Pullman's Sally Lockhart Mysteries. I knew a YA book would be an easy read, and having discovered the first book from the BBC's adaptation with Billie Piper, I knew I would enjoy it.

I was looking for a fun, fast read and Philip Pullman provides that in The Ruby in the Smoke, along with an engaging, clever female lead and a cast of quirky and interesting characters. Set in grimy Victorian London, the book follows Sally Lockhart as she unravels a mystery involving the recent death of her father, the opium trade, the truth of her birth, and the famed Ruby of Agrapur. This is the first book in the series, and I'm eager to see where Pullman takes Sally next. This series isn't as well known as Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, which is a shame, and it didn't come to my attention until I saw the adaptation, but I'm glad it did.

It seems to have done the trick. I've started the second book, The Shadow in the North, and I'm reading on full steam to kick this funk to the curb. If you like light mysteries with a historical setting and a strong female lead, I highly recommend this series.

Keep those pages turning!

Holocaust Stories: Reading, Watching, Writing

There is something so compelling to me about stories from the Holocaust. It was an event that affected millions of lives, and yet every story is different. Some are stories of survival, many are stories of loss, others tell stories of hope and an unexpected spark of kindness encountered during that dark moment in history. I think what draws me most is the intrinsic humanity of these stories. Love is universal. We have mothers, fathers, family, friends. We live in communities that are tenuously bound together by an adherence to certain commonalities, certain common rights; these stories look at what happens when those ties are severed, when rights are revoked, when humanity is lost.

I have been thinking about this a lot lately. Not only am I writing a Holocaust story, but during the past three years I have constantly immersed myself in them in order to research my novel and create a tapestry of life during that period. I go through waves of reading only WWII-era books and watching WWII-era movies. I take a break from time to time since the stories are fraught with emotion, but I still find myself drawn to them. (A good thing since I've invested so much time in this novel!)

Last weekend I finished reading Tatiana de Rosnay's Sarah's Key, which is a beautiful exploration of the importance of remembrance. The novel uses a dual narrative to follow modern day Julia as she uncovers secrets from the past, as well as following young Sarah through her tragic experience of the Holocaust. The aftermath is far-reaching and affects the families of both women. Julia's story could have been a mere sideshow, but she is a fully fleshed character and deals with her own modern issues--a husband gone astray, a pregnancy late in life, and the choices she must make along the way to move forward. I highly recommend it.

And a few weeks ago, we watched Defiance, which is a fascinating look at one small part of Holocaust history. It tells the story of a small partisan group in Poland, which survived the war in hiding, but which also fought back against the Nazis. It is an inspiring story, but I also think it's important to remember that it's one small part of the history. Many people couldn't fight back--children, the elderly--and so many others hoped that it would end soon. They couldn't begin to guess the scale of the Nazi plan or their brutality. However, I definitely recommend the movie.

Next up in the DVD queue: The Reader. I just started reading Sala's Gift, a daughter's true story of the discovery of her mother's Holocaust history. I'm particularly excited about this book because my novel is a mother-daughter story and deals with the daughter's excavation of her mother's hidden past.

To the other writers out there: what stories compel you, and are they the same stories you explore in your own writing?

A Winner

I am SO excited!

I entered a contest last week. I should mention that I never ever win anything. Ever.

But.

I won!

Over at Women on the Web they are running a contest called Words Move Me. To enter the contest, you have to submit a 'literary moment' that inspired you. The prize? A rose-colored Sony Reader Pocket Edition. (!!)

It looks quite lovely. I can't wait.

Here's the announcement, and my winning entry:

OMG, I won!**

I believe there are two chances left to win...

(**Because I am obsessed with language, I must note that there is a stray comma in my entry that shouldn't be there, but it wasn't in the version I submitted. Grammar Geek out.)

Random Assortment

...of Thoughts

I've been on a cooking kick lately. It happens. Every other month, or thereabout, I'm bombarded with ideas and the inspiration to cook from scratch. (Just to clarify: I do cook dinner every night, but often it's simple, thrown-together meals.) Last night I made a yummy turkey spinach lasagna--although I forgot the olives, which is a cardinal sin in my family! Today I pulled out some (healthy elk) steaks and have been marinating them in red wine and rosemary. I'm brushing them with fresh ground pepper and salt and then broiling them. (That inspiration was weird for me...I rarely eat red meat anymore, and I cook it even less. And yet I already had it once this week! Perhaps all the running has affected my appetite?) Next I want to make something--anything!--pumpkin. I think pumpkin muffins or bread might be just the thing.

I am a consummate night owl. For about two months I have been on a late night bender. I could not fall asleep, so I never went to bed early. Last week I was a bit under the weather, and therefore finally able to sleep at a decent time. I decided to take advantage of that and slowly transition my schedule to a slightly more normal one. I was in bed before 12:30 last night - quite good for me! However, I started a new book: Sarah's Key. It's a page turner, and it's one of those books with super short chapters, so you keep telling yourself, 'just one more'. Next thing I know, it's 1:45am, and I'm still reading. *sigh* So much for my early night. There's always tomorrow right?

Lastly, my brand new cell phone arrived in the post today. Yay! Now if I can figure it out, I will be a messaging, mobile web-browsing master.

The Time Traveler's Wife

I have been reading this book, and I adore it. The story is quirky, fun, and original; the romance is beautiful, unexpected, and timeless. Husband took me to the movie tonight, which I've been dying to see. I do wish they'd taken more time to develop the early relationship between Clare and Henry, but other than that I loved it...and I only cried a little. Although it diverges from the book slightly--don't all movies?--how could I resist the prospect of seeing Henry traipsing about in the nude, a la Eric Bana. Oo la la! Plus, Rachel McAdams is one of my favorite young actresses, and she was a great fit for the role. If you love a great romance in the vein of The Notebook, I highly recommend this movie. But the book is an absolute must read.

Score

Although a play on the title of my previous post, this is in no way related to it.

If you are on my facebook, you may already know that I recently scored two pieces of research-related historical memorabilia. While I was traveling, I took my sister up to Washington (the state, not the city), where we found the most wonderful used bookstore (Comstock's Bindery & Bookshop in Auburn, WA, in case you're ever in the area).

Many beautiful old books fought for my attention, but what caught my eye in the end was the collection of old Life Magazines. They are like a time capsule of days gone by. Advertisements for Goodyear Airships, Pond's ("She's Engaged! She's lovely! She uses Pond's!"), and Nescafe instant coffee with added carbohydrates vie for space with the call to buy war bonds and conserve meat, and etc., for the soldiers.

The first one I chose was released October 10, 1938, the week after the Munich Agreement--the catalyst for the opening scene in my novel. It's unbelievable to read articles written at that time, to see pictures of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain calmly meeting with Hitler and Mussolini, as well as photos of protesters and supporters of the agreement across Europe. Some believed it would bring peace to Europe, others recognized that it would precipitate a second war. No one, of course, could guess the magnitude of that decision.

The other one I chose was dated May 7, 1945, a week after the death of Hitler and the liberation of Dachau, which is also a key moment in my book. It contains some of the first images released to the public showcasing the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps. It also has features on everyday people in post-war Germany and France, as well as coverage of the homage paid to Roosevelt worldwide after his death.


For me, these are priceless artifacts. An illuminating and remarkable peek into the past.

Rattled

Headlines have been dire. In the bay area alone there were four police officers killed last week, followed by another family murder-suicide this week. (Not to mention the surge in violence across the country or the ever-present economic woes.) Today I experienced my third minor quake! Imagine a giant stomping on the floor above you whilst moving giant-sized furniture, because that's how it felt.

Amongst all the bad news lately, I've found solace in a book. Where else? I just finished reading Jamie Ford's Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.

I adored it!

It was a beautiful, heartfelt story of family and first love. As the title suggests, the story is bittersweet, but although it's heartbreaking, it's ultimately redemptive. Ford paints a picture of life in WWII-era Seattle and touches on the tragedy of the Japanese internment camps as well as the rampant prejudice and discrimination during that time. He handles these difficult topics delicately and captures a pivotal moment in American history. The underlying story of Seattle's jazz movement adds depth and breathes life into a little-known world.

Jamie Ford is a writer to watch. Grab a copy of the book; you won't regret it!

Finally, I have two people signed up for the Pay It Forward gesture. There's an opening for one more. Go on, you know you want to join...

Sensory delights

The roundup:

Watching - I've been eager to see Slumdog Millionaire since I read an enthusiastic review over Thanksgiving, and Husband and I finally caught it last weekend. It was well worth the wait and definitely lived up to all the hype. It was touching, funny, sweet, sad, and beautiful.

I just found the new trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I can't wait for July!

Reading - In need of a light, humorous read, I picked up a copy of An Arsonist's Guide to Writer's Homes in New England, which fits the bill so far. The narrator is a self-deluded, quirky character who accidentally burned down Emily Dickinson's home and many years later inadvertently sets himself up to be blamed for other fires. At first it was a page turner, but now that I'm halfway through it, I'm struggling to empathize with the character. I find myself simultaneously laughing at him, while constantly feeling the urge to smack some sense into him. I'll report back when I finish the book to let you know if it's a recommended read.

Listening - I picked up the new album by The Fray just before my holiday and I've been listening to it on repeat (as I do when I'm obsessed with a new CD). The only competition right now is the rain pouring down outside in sheets. The sound is soothing, until Drew needs to go out for a pee, and then it sounds like the soundtrack for a horror film!

Eating - I've been cooking from scratch a lot lately, which is unusual for me. I cook probably 5-6 nights a week, but I usually make simple dishes that require little planning and work. Last week I prepared five homemade meals as well as a batch of no pudge fudge (box) brownies! I felt inspired to be creative with the ingredients sitting in our cupboards and here's what I came up with:

*Spicy Thai coconut chicken noodle soup
*Coconut macadamia pancakes (I made these in honor of pancake day, which I've never celebrated, but all day the news talked about pancakes and it made me hungry for them!)
*Crustless Quiche with red pepper, tomato, cheese, and basil
*Whole wheat pizza with prosciutto, roma tomato, and basil
*Baked (Light!) Macaroni and Cheese with sweet peas

Not to brag (too much), but they all turned out really well, which is not the case for all of my kitchen experiments. Tonight I plan to try a Thai-inspired stir fry with the remaining coconut milk.

So. What have you been watching, reading, listening to, and eating lately?

Those Who Save Us

Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum

Stunning, heartrending, and beautiful.

When I was researching my own novel, I found this book, but I didn't want it to influence me, so while I finished my first draft and began the editing, it sat on the shelf beckoning to me. The wait did not disappoint my expectations. Blum handles a most difficult topic with delicacy and care. The ending made me sad, and at first it felt loose and unresolved, but in reality I think it was true to the characters.

I highly recommend this touching debut.

Books and Votes

Above L: San Jose Convention Center. R: Author Signing Table.
Below L: Wine tasting and marketplace booths. R: Author Salon.
I've been meaning to talk about my wonderful experience at Book Group Expo. On Saturday I worked as a volunteer and spent most of the day helping out in the salons where the book talks took place. The topics varied from "Managing Your Mother" to "Secrets of the Suburbs" to "Short Fiction".

The author book discussions were thought-provoking, and the open forum environment--which mimics a book club discussion--allowed for an engaging question and answer session. I was also particularly interested in hearing about their writing processes.

I met up with Erika Mailman, the Instructor from my Novel Writing Course this summer, which was fun. Erika spoke on a panel called "Which Witch is Which" to talk about her wonderful book, The Witches Trinity, which I highly recommend.

On Sunday I was an attendee and was able to get a few books signed, including a new book I've been wanting. It's called The Little Book by Selden Edwards, who has been working on it on and off for over 30 years before finally publishing it. I read about his story a few months ago and found it inspiring. He was just as inspiring in person, very friendly, and encouraging of fledgling writers. Rabih Alameddine was hilarious so I had to pick up his book The Hakawati. Michelle Richmond's The Year of Fog has been in my TBR list for awhile, so I was thrilled to receive a free copy in my loot bag (see below), and pretty equally excited when she told me she liked my barrette(!).

L: Free Loot. R: Signed Books.

I think it's fair to say I plan to go again next year.

To all the Americans out there: don't forget to VOTE tomorrow!

Finally, The Grapes of Wrath Review

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

My long awaited review...Ha ha!

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I would give this book 4.5 stars if I could.

I found it surprisingly engaging and beautiful. I know it's a classic, but I put off reading it because Steinbeck's wordy reputation precedes him, and not without reason.

As a writer, I found it fascinating how much a novel's style can change over time. An editor today would probably cut every other chapter since they veer from the main story to take a 'bigger picture' look at the implications of the Great Migration in the Dustbowl era. One whole chapter, for instance, is dedicated to a turtle's attempt to cross a highway.

And yet, the characters were sympathetic and real. The dialogue was perfect, and the ending was moving and unexpected. I'm so glad I didn't read this in high school, because I think the ending would have made me giggle immaturely, but instead it nearly made me cry.

It's a classic for a reason, and I highly recommend it.


View all my Goodreads.

Book Group Expo

This weekend I'm heading to Book Group Expo in San Jose. I'm volunteering tomorrow and Sunday I'm attending as a regular reader. (Rumor has it they gave out awesome goody bags last year!) I'm super excited. I'll be working in a Salon--where authors discuss their books--to help make sure everything runs smoothly. Hopefully I don't get too starstruck.

If you're in the bay area this weekend, you should check it out. It's a two day event, and there are fabulous Authors, from a range of styles, attending.

Addiction

I began reading Twilight Thursday night, and with some self-control, I finished it last night. I loved Stephenie Meyer's scintillating vampire romp and never wanted to put it down. After I began, I worried Friday would be a painful day of writing, spent trying to ignore the tempting book lying on the table, but it ended up being a really good motivator. I promised myself that if I finished my daily page count, I could read. I ended up having a great editing day, exceeding my goal.

Sadly, I'm now checking my Amazon order every hour to see when New Moon might arrive.

You may notice that I still have the same four books on my 'currently reading' shelf. I had to begin this book, even though I'm already involved in four others, because I'm excited for the release of the Twilight movie next month, and I began to worry that I would run out of time to read the book first. (You have to read the book first!) I'm also forcing Husband to read the book and wanted to give him time to finish it since he's a slower reader than me.

Check out the movie teasers:


Autumn is the perfect time of year to snuggle up with a good book. Happy reading (and watching)!

Reading, (writing), and watching

I'm in one of those funks where I'm reading four books at once and all very slowly. I'm still reading The Grapes of Wrath, and in fact still enjoying it, but my attention span is short. I also started Stephen King's On Writing, and since I'm now halfway through, that may have something to do with my slowing progress through TGoW. (I'm also reading I Was a Child of Holocaust Survivors as part of my ongoing research, along with The Thyroid Solution for answers to my health questions.) Maybe it's the arrival of autumn. Darkness encroaches earlier in the evening and when I wake the light has not yet filled my room.

Do you find your reading habits change with the seasons?

Perhaps the surfeit of yummy new television shows is related as well. Last year's new fave, Life, has returned in all its quirky entertainment. I'm still testing out 90210 and Lipstick Jungle, and I've added House and Bones to my viewing repertoire. Sheesh. I never used to be such a TV girl, but it's so relaxing in the evening when I'm tired. Hopefully a few shows will fall by the wayside as the season progresses.

This weekend we went to see The Duchess, and I thought it was very well done. I really enjoyed the movie, even if it was a bit sad. I'm endlessly amazed by Ralph Fiennes's ablility to enbody such savage roles, particularly the most evil characters (Voldemort, Red Dragon, Amon Goeth), although this character was complex, awkward, and cruel rather than evil. And Keira Knightley was lovely, as always.

On the writing front I have little to report. The second draft is progressing along at a snail's pace. I've taken a step back to refine a few selected chapters, but I'm inching along with the editing on Chapter 8. I'm hoping to turn the tide this week and find a new reserve of energy to carry me through this edit.

Books of Courage

I bought myself a few small treats after completing my first draft: a bottle of bubbly, two pairs of dangly earrings from artisans at the local Sunday Market, and a book, The Courage to Write: How Writers Transcend Fear.

After a busy weekend, Husband and I spent a belated Monday night imbibing bubbly in celebration. The earrings, though in no way related to writing, are swishy and sparkly and inspiring in their own way. The book was my practical post first draft purchase.

My favorite used bookstore downtown--with its own cat called Isbn--moved to a new premises. The larger, airier building leaves room for more shelves and easier browsing. I probably spent an hour browsing the shelves looking for something special. There were plenty of books I wanted, but, with a towering to-be-read pile at home, I was looking for something unique. I stopped in the writing section and found many interesting books, but this particular book appeared to be written especially for me. As I flipped through the pages, I realized it spoke to The Fear I've faced for the last two years, as well as the New Fear that's begun to creep up since I wrote my last page. I wonder if I can finish this novel to my satisfaction; and if I do meet my own level of perfection, will it be good enough that others will want to read it. I was startled to see the names of stellar writers gracing the pages of this book to put voice to their fears. Apparently The Fear is more widespread than I realized. I am not alone.

Last night I finished another excellent writing book, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, which bolstered me with ideas for how to approach my second-draft. Now I'm indulging myself with the comforting pages of this new book in hopes that it will help usher me into this new phase of my writing life.