I am happy to say I have completed Carl's R.I.P. IV Challenge - Peril the Second, which we are required to read two books of any length, from any subgenre of scary stories that we choose.
I can not resist reading another book so here are my list:
ISBN-13: 9780230015890
To add complexity to the story, it seems Gretchen, Archie and Susan have their own agendas in mind and they kind of made use of one another's vulnerability or profession to get what they want from the other (Note: Archie visits Gretchen every Sunday in prison so this explains the communications between them). The twist of the story comes when Susan's past catch up on her and Archie has to race against the time to catch the killer before Susan became the next victim. But what I find most intriguing is the captor-captive relationship between Gretchen and Archie; I could not understand what made Gretchen decided to spare Archie's life and why Archie developed a strange feeling towards her; I hate to think there are any romantic feelings between them so perhaps Stockholm syndrome is the answer here.
Speaking of relationship, I hope to see some sparks fly between Susan and Archie as I think they would make an interesting couple. As for the ending, it definitely makes me want to read more and I can foresee myself reading the next installment, Sweetheart, sooner than I expected (hopefully my reading mood will not waver then). To sum up everything, I enjoyed reading Heartsick and it is one of the best thrillers I read this year.
So have you read anything that feature a lady serial killer like Gretchen Lowell, or a female Hannibal Lecter for that matter? I am intrigued to read more about these characters so if you have came across any books that feature them, please share them with me.
Before I end this post, I want to thank Julia for introducing this exciting series to me! This is our buddy read so do visit her blog to check out her review too.
Other reviews:
avidbookreader
Fantasy Book Critic
Julia's Books Corner
Monkey Bear Reviews
Mysteries in Paradise
The Bookworm
The Dreamin' Demon
The Movieholic & Bibliophile's Blog
(I am sure there are a lot more reviews out there that I may have overlooked. Please let me know if I missed yours.)
I love beautiful, and interesting, cover art so every Wednesday I post my 'Cover Attraction' for the week along with a synopsis of the book. Everyone is welcome to stop by and, if they'd like, post a link to their favorite weekly book cover.
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The Concubine's Daughter by Pai Kit Fai
ISBN-13: 9780312355210
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: September 2009
Synopsis (From B&N):
An epic, heart-wrenching story of a mother and daughter’s journey to their destiny.
Lotus Feet. He would give his daughter the dainty feet of a courtesan. This would enhance her beauty and her price, making her future shine like a new coin. He smiled to himself, pouring fresh tea. And it would stop her from running away…
When the young concubine of an old farmer in rural China gives birth to a daughter called Li-Xia, or “Beautiful One,” the child seems destined to become a concubine herself. Li refuses to submit to her fate, outwitting her father’s orders to bind her feet and escaping the silk farm with an English sea captain. Li takes her first steps toward fulfilling her mother’s dreams of becoming a scholar—but her final triumph must be left to her daughter, Su Sing, “Little Star,” in a journey that will take her from remote mountain refuges to the perils of Hong Kong on the eve of World War II.
TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:
My teaser for today:
My name's Bacon Sobelowski. I have bad timing.
(Pg 12, Fishing for Bacon by Michael Davie)
Note: This book will be reviewed on November 10th for the Eco-Libris' Green Books Campaign.
(Thanks to Raz Godelnik of Eco-Libris and the publisher for sending this book to me for review!)
Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about note taking…
Do you take notes while reading – either for your reviews or for yourself? How/where do you make these notes (on the page, post-its, scrap paper, notebooks etc)?
Generally speaking, I don't take notes while reading but I will jot down the quotes that are meaningful, memorable and/or left an emotional impact on me (on journal). For reviewing purpose, I will mark the pages with post-its tags for the passages that I wish to share with my readers so that I know I will not miss them when I draft the review; I will then remove those tags after the review.
What about you?
I missed Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-thon Challenge during the weekend, and I did mention that I will try to log onto the internet to cheer everyone but unfortunately I did not have the chance since my little darling was not feeling well (she is still having cough and a running nose) and it does not help when she was feeling clingy and cried whenever I leave her out of sight. Anyway, I am glad to know everyone had a wonderful time reading and having fun out of it! (At present, I am still not done reading all the posts for the Read-a-thon on my Google Reader and it sure is fun reading them and viewing the pictures.) I cannot wait to read all the reviews and I hope everyone had a good rest after this challenge.
Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia from The Printed Page.
I received one book (via BookMooch) last week:
1) Asleep by Banana Yoshimoto (After reading Kitchen and Goodbye Tsugumi by the same author, I decided to read more of her books.)
So what books came into your house last week?
ISBN-13: 9780375714757I love beautiful, and interesting, cover art so every Wednesday I post my 'Cover Attraction' for the week along with a synopsis of the book. Everyone is welcome to stop by and, if they'd like, post a link to their favorite weekly book cover.
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The Girl on Legare Street by Karen White
ISBN-13: 9780451227997
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Published: November 2009
Synopsis (From B&N):
Acclaimed author Karen White returns with the sequel to the national bestseller The House on Tradd Street.
Melanie has grown accustomed to renovating old houses, but she never imagined she'd have to renovate her own life to include her estranged mother. Ginnette Prioleau Middleton left Charleston thirty-five years ago. She's returned wanting to protect the daughter she's never really known after receiving an ominous premonition.
Melanie never wanted to see her mother again, but with some prodding from her partner, Jack Trenholm, she agrees-and begins to rebuild their relationship. Together Melanie and Ginnette buy back their old home. With their combined psychic abilities they expect to unearth some ghosts. But what they find is a vengeful dark spirit whose strength has been growing for decades. It will take unearthing long buried secrets to beat this demon and save what's left of Melanie's family...
TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:
My teaser for today:
He reached up, slowly undid the top few buttons of his shirt and inserted his right hand under the fabric, placing it over his ribs, running his fingers over the thick scars that webbed his skin, until he found the heart that Gretchen Lowell had carved on him.
He had spent ten years working on the Beauty Killer Task Force, tracking the north-west's most prolific serial killer.
(Pg 9, HeartSick by Chelsea Cain)
Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about the read-a-thon…
Are you planning on participating in the upcoming 24 Hour Read-a-thon (either as a reader or cheerleader)? Have you made any preparations for the event? And, veterans out there, any tips you’d like to share with the newbies?
I have not joined any of the read-a-thon since I know it is impossible for me to read a book (let alone a few books!) without any interruption from my two young children at home. Still, I know it is so much fun and I hope to participate in another year or two when they are much older and do not need my attention so much.
I also find it fun to read what other particpants have chosen to read for the read-a-thon and I look forward to reading their posts when that day for the event arrives! I am not sure if I have the opportunity to logon the computer and cheer everyone on (my regular readers will know I hardly access to my computer during the weekends) but I will be with you all in spirit!
So are you participating as a reader or a cheerleader in the upcoming read-a-thon?
When’s the last time you weeded out your library? Do you regularly keep it pared down to your reading essentials? Or does it blossom into something out of control the minute you turn your back, like a garden after a Spring rain?
Or do you simply not get rid of books? At all?
And–when you DO weed out books from your collection (assuming that you do) …what do you do with them? Throw them away (gasp)? Donate them to a charity or used bookstore? SELL them to a used bookstore? Trade them on Paperback Book Swap or some other exchange program?
I was late for this but I loved last week's question so I will answer them anyway.
I have not weeded my library for some time. I used to categorize my books in genre but I have given up doing so after I have lose control of buying and adding books to my pile so nowadays, they are categorized as 'read' or 'unread'. I try to keep all the books I read into boxes but that is becoming an issue to me since I am running out of space for everything (be it the TBR pile or books I read).
I do not believe in throwing books away as I know there is bound to be someone out there who would appreciate them so I will either put them on my inventory list on BookMooch, host a giveaway at my blog or donate them to any organizations who are in need of them.
What about you? What would you do to the books that you do not want to keep?
Jemima from The Reading Journey passed on a "One Lovely Blog Award" to me and I cannot thank her enough for this! I am new to Jemima's blog but I am very happy to discover her blog and added it to my Google Reader list.
I will pass this lovely award to a few blogs I have discovered lately:
ISBN-13: 9780486266848I love beautiful, and interesting, cover art so every Wednesday I post my 'Cover Attraction' for the week along with a synopsis of the book. Everyone is welcome to stop by and, if they'd like, post a link to their favorite weekly book cover.
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Days of Gold by Jude Deveraux
ISBN-13: 9781439107942
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: December 2009
Synopsis (From Simon & Schuster):
New York Times bestselling author Jude Deveraux returns to her roots in this sweeping historical romance with a dazzling story that spans two continents and unites two people who are separated by class, wealth, and education.
In 1766 Scotland, the laird of the clan, Angus McTern, has everything he wants in life. Although his grandfather lost the family's land and castle in a card game when Angus was just a boy, Angus takes his duties seriously and is respected by all the men and adored by the women. That is, until Edilean Talbot shows up.
Breathtakingly beautiful and born of privilege, Edilean represents everything Angus despises. Still he is as dazzled by her as everyone else is, and he can keep his feelings hidden from her for only so long. When she rejects him he is deeply wounded and, worse, humiliated before his clan. But then the day comes when Edilean needs Angus's help, to reclaim the gold she inherited from her father, which is on its way to America. At first Angus refuses, but her beauty -- and her tears -- so haunt him that he puts aside his pride and decides to aid the heiress. However, when Angus tries to intervene, he's accused of kidnapping and theft. To avoid being prosecuted, he's forced to leave behind all that he knows and loves and escape with Edilean to America. There they will overcome almost insurmountable obstacles as they are pursued endlessly by the man who claims the gold for his own. Despite all that tries to keep them apart, Angus and Edilean also find a love as wild and free as the land itself.
The second book in the multigenerational Edilean Series that began with Lavender Morning, Days of Gold is filled with passion, humor, exquisite detail, and pulse-pounding adventure. Stirring and masterfully rendered, this is Jude Deveraux at her best.
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To find out more or participate, go to The Printed Page every Wednesday.
TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:
My teaser for today:
The apparition had reached the landing halfway up and was therefore on the spot nearest the window, where at sight of me, it stopped short and fixed me exactly as it had fixed me from the tower and from the garden. He knew me as well as I knew him; and so, in the cold, faint twilight, with a glimmer in the high glass and another on the polish of the oak stair below, we faced each other in our common intensity.
(Pg 39, The Turn of the Screw by Henry James)
ISBN: 9781890862640Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about books on your top book lists…
This past week, Borders re-released it’s 100 Favourite Books of All Times. Do you vote in these kinds of polls when they arise? Do you look through the list, or seek out books featured?
During my pre-blogging days, I read (or buy) books based on my own liking. Though there are times I do check out the lists from other sources (be it a brief review on magazines/papers, or some top books lists from various bookstores) but they are merely suggestions for my future reading/acquisitions; I do not really seek out all the titles listed on these bestselling lists because I know I cannot possibly like all the books listed there. I rarely vote in polls but I am always interested to know what other readers are reading. I have to say I rely more on fellow bookbloggers' recommendations nowadays as compared to other sources, for these simple reasons that these bookbloggers have become my friends and on top of that we know what books to recommend to each other based on our preferences and to me this is the best list I have and not to mention is my very own personal one.
What about you?
Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia from The Printed Page.
I received the following books last week:
1) Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury (Thanks to Care for offering to send it to me!)
2) The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks (a giveaway win hosted by Kathy)
So what books came into your house last week?
ISBN-13: 9781407109367
Katniss had been hurt both physically and emotionally in the Hunger Games after fighting with fellow tributes and seeing a few of them died after getting closer to them, and she is definitely not prepared when more challenging routes are being thrown into her way. However, the goal she had set during the game is very different from this time round, and this is where I find the emotional level exceeds the previous installment but there are also more mind-boggling challenges that Katniss, Peeta as well as the other tributes have to meet.
I wish I could say more about this book but I guess I should stop here as I fear the more I write, the more I would say something that I shouldn't. Let's put it this way that some sacrifices are inevitable and Katniss has a tough choice to make.
As much as I enjoyed reading this second installment, I wish the author has written more about District 13 as it has definitely leave many of us readers intrigued after reading a brief mention of it.
Without saying, Catching Fire is a page-turner (and an emotionally-charged book in my opinion) and I am hoping the final book in the trilogy would be released sooner!
Other reviews:
Angieville
Bart's Bookshelf
Booking Mama
BoyWithBooks.com
Devourer of Books
E. M. Reads
Farm Lane Books Blog
In Bed With Books
Karin's Book Nook
Melissa's Bookshelf
Muse Book Reviews
My Friend Amy
Not Enough Bookshelves
Linus’s Blanket
Reverie Book Reviews
Presenting Lenore
Savvy Verse & Wit
Stephanie's Written Word
Stuff As Dreams Are Made On
The Compulsive Reader
The Zen Leaf
Wondrous Reads
(I am sure there are many more reviews of this book. Please let me know if I missed yours.)
I love beautiful, and interesting, cover art so every Wednesday I post my 'Cover Attraction' for the week along with a synopsis of the book. Everyone is welcome to stop by and, if they'd like, post a link to their favorite weekly book cover.
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My find for this week is American Fuji by Sara Backer.
ISBN-13: 9780425230091
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Published: September 2009
Synopsis:
"Japan itself is the comic hero of American Fuji...sweet and funny, sad and inspiring."
Gaby Stanton, an American professor living in Japan, has lost her job teaching English at Shizuyama University. (No one will tell her exactly why.) Alex Thorn, an American psychologist, is mourning his son, a Shizuyama exchange student who was killed in an accident. (No one will tell him exactly how.) Alex has come to this utterly foreign place to find the truth, and now Gaby is serving as his translator and guide. The key to mastering Japanese, she keeps telling him, is understanding what's not being said. And in this "deft and delightful" (Karen Joy Fowler) novel, the unsaid truths about everything from work and love to illness and death cast a deafening silence-and tower in the background like Mount Fuji itself.
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To find out more or participate, go to The Printed Page every Wednesday.
TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:
My teaser for today:
"I know. I will. I'll convince everyone in the districts that I wasn't defying the Capitol, that I was crazy with love," I say.
President Snow rises and dabs his puffy lips with a napkin. "Aim higher in case you fall short."
(Pg 34, Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins)
Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about books on your wishlist…
Last week we talked about keeping a wishlist. Why not pull out that list and show us some of the books you’ve been eyeing off?
When I told my non-bookish friends that I have a long wishlist to keep, their very first comment was: "But I thought you've a lot of books which you haven't read?" I know I should hang my head in shame at that remark, after all they are right and I shouldn't be buying more books or even keeping a wishlist knowing that the books in my TBR will probably last me for years, but how could you turn away from any good books, especially when you know you trust your friends' recommendations and that you all share the same reading taste?
Anyway, here are just some of the books that make the priority list (not in any order):
What are yours?
Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia from The Printed Page.
I received the following books last week:
1) The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham (via BookMooch)
And the following books bought from The Book Depository:
2) I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
3) The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
4) I'm Looking Through You: Growing Up Haunted by Jennifer Finney Boylan
5) Ruined by Paula Morris
So what books came into your house last week?
Super Comments Award
For these awards, I am passing them on to:
Also, thanks to Ceri for passing on the following award to me:
Proximidade Award
Being a recipient of this award affirms that this blog invests and believes in the Proximity – nearness in space, time and relationships. This blog receives this great award as a further way to reiterate that it is exceedingly charming, and aims to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers!
I am passing this award to:
I hope everyone has a great weekend ahead! Happy reading!
ISBN-13: 9780143039983I have a habit of reading the introduction pages (or the Author's Notes, or any other stuff that are printed before the first chapter for that matter) but I have to say this is the book where you have to skip reading the introduction pages and jump to the story first. Why? Besides a little background of the author (which I enjoyed reading and learning more about her), they also include some information about the story and the characters which I felt are a bit of a spoiler so I would suggest anyone to read the story first unless you do not mind it at all. That said, let me get on with this review.
First, I have to thank Nymeth for mentioning this book. Without her lovely review, I would have given this book a miss. As the title indicates, this is a story that centered around Hill House and it had stood so for eighty years. It all begins when Dr. John Montague, a scholar who had taken his degree in anthropology when he wants to find some evidence of supernatural manifestations. When he heard about Hill House, he knew he had found an excellent place for his "investigations". Thus, he rented the place for three months, and he had engaged four assistants (they should fit the criteria of involving in any supernatural or abnormal event) but only Eleanor Vance and Theodora (that is as much name as she used) turned up. Together with Luke Sanderson, the future heir of Hill House, the four of them will stay in the Hill House and they shall wait to see if the supernaturals really do exist.
As much as this is about the haunted Hill House, I have to say there is much more than it. Besides the intensity thrill like any other ghost stories, this story is very much about the setting, the atmosphere, the psychological feeling and not to mention the set of characters that make this book a total different reading experience as compared with the others of the same genre. In this case, Eleanor plays an important role in this story as the readers get to experience the story from within her consciousness. Through Eleanor's perspective, the readers follow her through this grand adventure as the story moves along and that is the most intrigue experience in my opinion.
I can understand why the author chose Eleanor for this role because she is quite an interesting and a complex character. Before she took up Dr. Montague's invitation, she has been spending most of her life looking after her ailing mother and one could say she is very much a loner since she hardly interacts with anyone. However, that changes after she got acquainted with Dr. Montague's team and lives in Hill House and this is where I should stop telling more about the premise.
Oh, I feel I need to mention the housekeeper of Hill House, Mrs Dudley because she is a strange woman. She is not at all scary or menacing but there is definitely an aura of mystery surrounding her.
All in all, The Haunting of Hill House is a great read. I have also heard We Have Always Lived in the Castle is another great novel by her so this would be my next choice among her other list of books.
Other reviews:
A Striped Armchair
Bibliolatry
Books for Breakfast, Drinks for Dinner
Booknotes by Lisa
Jenny's Books
Sadie-Jean
So Many Books
Stuck in a Book
Things Mean A Lot
(Let me know if I missed yours.)
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