the(EPIC)rat: May 2009

Saturday, May 30, 2009

BkRv: My bounty lies over the ocean...

Book Review: The Dust Of 100 Dogs by A.S. King

YA | Pirates

First Line: Imagine my surprise when, after three centuries of fighting with siblings over a spare furry teat and licking my water from a bowl, I was given a huge human nipple, all to myself, filled with warm mother's milk.

{Prologue: With one last, almighty roar, the Frenchman fell to his knees and died.}

Rating: 5 - If this was in Davy Jones' locker, I'd walk the plank with pleasure!

Everyone has been saying so many good things about The Dust Of 100 Dogs as well as its cover. All that praise gets me excited, but it also makes me take a step back from the hype because maybe it is not as good as I had hoped despite how awesomely piratical the cover and font are. Pop Culture Junkie stumbled across a neat Lookalike image; Melissa Walker features a Cover Story (for the addition of sharks, check out Book Nymph's Cover Story).

But I'm with Presenting Lenore, you'll have to pry this book from my cold, dead hands!

Saffron appears to be an ordinary teenaged girl on the outside, but inside she's full of bloodthirsty and sea-loving history that spans beyond what a typical girl should know.

From page 18
Like how annoying it was to be surrounded by spoiled, twentieth-century thirteen-year-old boys and girls all day, by twentieth-century grown-ups with no idea about what was really going on, who were caught up in Dynasty soap opera plots, in Reaganomics, in stuff that really didn't mean anything to anybody. I wanted to kill them, and felt simultaneously sorry for them. They were a galleon of starving sailors, and I wanted to sever each one of them in half for being so stupid.

Inside she is housing the memories of Emer Morrisey, feared pirate captain who prowls for Spanish treasure and delights in spearing eyeballs. Instead of dreaming about college next year, all Saffron wants is to reclaim the treasure that Emer buried in Jamaica centuries ago.

A.S. King weaves together Emer and Saffron's stories into a brilliant story and takes readers down a rabbit hole that includes muskets, fist-sized rubies, a druggie brother, a creepy pedophile, random dog facts, and a nice Irish girl who deep down is waiting for her childhood sweetheart to find her.

From page 294
On top of everything, Emer Morrisey's feelings ate me whole. I longed to kill everyone. I longed for someone to love me. I longed for treasure. I felt like a sniveling idiot.

I can say more, although I fear I may have said enough - The Dust Of 100 Dogs lives up to the smoke it has blown with enough pirate-y action to last me a lifetime!

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Disclosure 10/7/09:
This has been bought with my hard-earned money.

Book Club: Gallagher Girls series - Chapter 22 & 24

For the next several weeks, we - Cecilia, Kate, Reyna, and Katie - will be posting discussion questions for I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You (the first book of Ally Carter's Gallagher Girl series). Each blog host will focus on one chapter every week.

We invite anyone and everyone to join in the discussions via comments.
Answers, more questions, thoughts welcome!

This week we are discussing the Chapters 21 through 24
Next week will be Chapters 25 through 29

Chapter 22 questions at Read This Book!
Chapter 24 questions at Katie's Bookshelf!

PAST DISCUSSIONS

Ch 1 | Ch 2 | Ch 3 | Ch 4
Ch 5 | Ch 6 | Ch 7 | Ch 8
Ch 9 | Ch 10 | (Ch 11) | Ch 12
Ch 13 | Ch 14 | (Ch 15) | Ch 16
Ch 17 | Ch 18 | (Ch 19) | Ch 20
Ch 21 | Ch 22 | (Ch 23) | Ch 24
Ch 25 | Ch 26 | Ch 27 | Ch 28 | Ch 29

Friday, May 29, 2009

BkRv: What he needs is a woman's touch

Book Review: Frederica by Georgette Heyer

Romance | Historical

First Line: Not more than five days after she had despatched an urgent missive to her brother, the Most Honourable the Marquis of Alverstoke, requesting him to visit her at his earliest convenience, the widowed Lady Buxted was relieved to learn from her youngest daughter that Uncle Vernon had just shown up to the house, wearing a coat with dozens of capes, and looking as fine as fivepence.

Rating: 3 (and 1/2) Occasionally long-winded, but overall a charming walk down Lover's Lane!

This is my 2nd Georgette Heyer book, but 1st of her historical romance, and I think I prefer her historical romance more than her mysteries (though I've only read 1 mystery so far). I can definitely see how Austen fans may discover a kindred spirit in Georgette Heyer, but I also foresee those who appreciate Louisa May Alcott's Little Women series will be pleased with Frederica as well.

The Marquis of Alverstoke has spent a great deal of effort on not bending to his sisters' wills and resisting their efforts to hold debutante balls at his place of residence. He has built his reputation as a cold-hearted, uncaring cad quite skillfully and, frankly, he wants to remain as such. Less expectations, less responsibilities, and hopefully less bothersome family members.

Imagine his surprise when his secretary delivers an request for his presence made by a distant female cousin, fresh from the country, who had been accompanied by a rather breathtaking beauty. The Marquis does not plan on accepting, but randomly decides to pay a visit when he happens to be in the neighborhood. And thus encounters Frederica.

Who is quite unlike anyone he has ever met - forward, practical, intelligent, though not outrageously pretty, and far too talkative. Frederica has brought her young sister and 2 younger brothers to London in hopes of finding a suitable match for her sister, and she implores the Marquis to help her. Instinctively, the Marquis wants to say no and beg his leave - but he finds himself staying longer and saying yes to presenting Frederica's sister at a ball to spite his sisters.

From page 62
She had not, at the outset, been favourably impressed: his figure was good, his tailoring exquisite, and his countenance, though not handsome, distinguished; but she had thought that his manner held too much height, and that his eyes were cold, and unpleasantly cynical. Even his smile had seemed to be contemptuous, curling his lips, but leaving his eyes as hard as steel. Then she had said something that had appealed to his sense of humour, and the metallic gleam had vanished in a smile of real amusement. Not only did it warm his eyes, but it transformed him in a flash from a aristocrat of haughty composure to an easy-mannered gentleman, with a strong sense of the ridiculous, and considerable charm of manner.

But can his agreement to Frederica's schemes be also due to the fact that he finds her utterly refreshing and entertaining?

Frederica was a pretty charming read, though I sometimes got bogged down by all the historical details that Georgette Heyer throws in. Not only are there balls and gowns, but she includes tidbits on foundries, hot air balloon exhibitions, and rheumatic fever. All very interesting, don't get me wrong, but covered in great detail that I found myself impatiently waiting for things to keep going.

The characters were fun, especially Frederica's younger brothers who wormed their way into the Marquis's hearts and twisted his arm to their whims. It was really fun to see the Marquis's defenses melt as he boyishly joined them in their scholarly but mischievous pursuits. And Frederica was quite the chatterbox and got herself into the silliest scrapes, almost reminescent of I Love Lucy mishaps. The dialogue between characters - especially the women - were hilarious to behold when they spoke of each other in brutally honest but polite words.

From page 277
'Frederica cannot, I own, hold a candle to Charis [her sister], in respect of beauty; but she has a great deal of countenance, and a liveliness of mind which Charis lacks. They are both agreeable, well-bred girls, but Charis is a lovely ninnyhammer, while Frederica, in my judgment, is a woman of superior sense.'

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Disclosure 10/7/09:
This is a review copy sent by the publisher.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

May Blog Tour Giveaway

So I participated in 8 blog tours this month which proved to be a pretty crazy endeavor on my part, but I had fun with the interviews and hopefully you added 1 or 2 more books to your TBR pile :}

Which brings me to the purpose of this post: To give away these books!

Lauren Lipton - Mating Rituals Of The North American WASP
Sarah Cross - Dull Boy I'm giving away the real deal (a.k.a. published). ARC is for T2T giveaway
Therese Fowler - Reunion
Maria Semple - This One Is Mine
Susan May Warren - Nothing But Trouble
C.W. Gortner - The Last Queen
Stephen Lawhead - Tuck
George Rabasa - The Wonder Singer Note: The original giveaway is closed and the winner has been chosen.

I will select 4 winners

1st place - 3 books of their choice
2nd place - 2 books of their choice from the remaining 5
3rd & 4th place - 1 book of their choice from the remaining 4

Rules are as follows:

+1 for leaving an email address

+3 for new followers (+5 for current followers)

+5 for posting about this contest in a blog post or sidebar

+5 for any comments left on any May blog tour posts (+10 if you commented before 5/29)

Ends June 15th

Open WORLDWIDE

Thursday Thereabouts - May 28, 2009

Every Thursday I will share what I am currently reading this week, what I finished, and what I am tempted to start. I'll give some general impressions of the books that I'm not quite finished with and, depending on if I managed to post a review yet, my overall reaction to the books I finished.See previous Thursday Thereabouts here.

[Note: I skipped last week, so my "finished" pile may look a little astronomical! :P]

Currently in the middle of...

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter We are nearing the end of the first book, and I am dying to find out if Josh discovers Cammie's secret but true identity! Unsure if discussion will continue for the 2nd book, but will definitely keep you posted! Current discussions here.

The Dust Of 100 Dogs by A.S. King Excited to finally have time for this! The cover is adorable, and the story is quite out-of-this-world so far! I heart me some pirates :D

Last Night In Montreal by Emily St. John Mandel Unsure where this is leading me, but so far I'm ready to read on and find out!

Finished with...

The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner Another historical fiction book that I thoroughly enjoyed (though not full of interesting grossties as Mistress Of The Sun), but it definitely sheds a new light on Juana, the Mad Queen of Spain. See my review here. Check out the blog tour!

Tuck by Stephen R. Lawhead Once the action and clever disguises appeared, things got more interesting and more along with what I loved about Robin Hood. This book definitely gives Robin Hood more of a historical slant that really makes it more interesting! See my review here.

Nothing But Trouble by Susan May Warren Surpisingly fun to read! P.J. proved to be an entertaining main character who was prone to mishaps as she took on the role of private investigator to save her best friend's husband from being framed for murder! See my review here.

Mating Rituals Of A North American WASP by Lauren Lipton Note to self: What happens in Vegas does not stay there - and may promptly come back to haunt you. Fairly decent chick lit, but not as sparkly as I would have liked it. See my review here.

Reunion by Therese Fowler Loved it! The writing was excellent, and each character had their spotlight so I could see where they were coming from. See my review here. Check out the blog tour!

Frederica by Georgette Heyer Very bubbly and charming! I can see why Georgette Heyer is the Queen of Regency romance :D And it definitely had tons of unique details about that period that I really enjoyed!

Tempted to start...

I'll be on vacation next week and not a lot of blog tours coming up, so I am tempted to start all the books that I've been itching to start for quite some time!

What are you reading now? What have you finished? What are you tempted to start?

BkRv: In the name of love, one night in the name of love

Book Review: Mating Rituals Of A North American WASP by Lauren Lipton

Chick Lit

First Line: Something wasn't right, and she knew it before opening her eyes.

Rating: 3. What happens in Vegas does not stay in Vegas, no matter what you think!

I am a day late in the blog tour (though, honestly, I don't understand a one-day blog tour...), and I actually meant to ready the post late last night, but by the time I got home after work last night I totally zonked out, and yes this statement has 4 sentences compounded together.

From page 1
She'd been having the oddest dream about a man she was sure she'd never met in her waking life, though in the dream he was as familiar as an old friend. A man she would not be able to recall later, beyond that his presence had buoyed her with happiness. A man she only understood wasn't Brock and was in fact someone Brock should never know about.

Peggy wakes up in a hotel room - not hers - after a bachelorette party in Vegas with a stranger in bed with her. They are both fully-clothed. But Peggy does not remember what they may and may not have done last night - all she knows is that this is very very bad when there is a commitment-phobic boyfriend waiting for her back home. So she sneaks out without waking her bedmate and hopes that what happens in Vegas does indeed stay in Vegas.

And, surprise, it follows her home.

Instead, Peggy gets an even ruder awakening when she discovers that she got married to said stranger in Vegas. Which poses quite a dilemma when her boyfriend of 7 years finally gets over his phobia and gives her a pre-engagement ring upon her return from Vegas. The stranger - Luke, as he is otherwise called - shares her sentiments exactly and offers to draw up divorce/annulment papers with her.

They are almost successful until his great-aunt finds out about their marriage and is all gung-ho about carrying on the family name of great WASP heritage. She convinces them to remain married for 1 year by offering them ownership of the family estate which is worth millions. Luke can finally sell the dilapidated house and wash his hands of his WASP background; Peggy can continue to support her independent business as its rent price doubles. But can these two strangers stay together for that long, especially if Peggy is pre-engaged to someone else?

From page 51
"You're insane," Bex's disembodied voice barked out from the intercom at the entrance to her and Josh's building. "I mean, you're insane generally, but scared-of-everything insane, not throw-all-caution-to-the-wind insane."

And what if their impromptu Vegas marriage was something more than a sham?

From page 320
"What do you call those preppy pants, the kind where the right front legs is, like, yellow, and the left front leg is pink, and the right back leg is, I don't know, green, and the left back leg -"

"Go-to-hell pants," Luke interrupted. "What's your point?"

"You people are lunatics," Bex scoffed. "You can wear pants like that, but you won't say one little 'I love you'? Don't be such a WASP, Luke. You've got five weeks before you lose Peggy forever. If that doesn't call for drama, nothing dose."

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Get the Scoop on...Sarah Cross

And, without further ado, I now welcome Sarah Cross to The Epic Rat as a part of Traveling To Teen blog tour for Dull Boy which involves a group of teenagers who struggle to fit into teenaged society, but cannot due to their superpowers.

Sarah Cross is a Taurus born in the year of the Monkey. She is four inches taller than Wolverine, but does not have adamantium claws ... yet. Fierce but cute Pallas' cats are her favorite animals--and if you don't think that is relevant, then you really don't know her. She grew up in Ohio and now lives in New York. DULL BOY is her first novel.

She has been more than awesome during this blog tour, and I am pleased to have her here! Check out my review here. Have Sarah make you laugh here.

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How did the title Dull Boy come about? Was this your original working title?
Yep, Dull Boy was my original working title. :) It popped into my head as a play on the saying "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." Except I was thinking "all heroism and no play." Like what if you were so busy secretly trying to be a hero, that all your friends ditched you and your life started to suck? And of course, Avery has to pretend to be unremarkable, because if people knew the truth about him, he'd lose his freedom fast.

So many titles get changed; I feel really fortunate that I got to keep mine.

Which came first - the superheroes or the characters? How did you decide who had which power?
Even before I knew their names, I knew what types of powers I wanted the characters to have. Sophie was the exception. Her personality came first. :)

As far as how I decided who had which power ... chalk it up to a weird brand of instinct. It's the same way I choose names; I can't settle until the name feels exactly right, but I don't know how I make that decision. When it came to the characters' powers, I knew I wanted a blend of iconic, familiar powers and more unusual ones.

There were some pretty unique superhero powers in Dull Boy. Were there any other powers that you thought of, but ended up not using?
Oh, definitely. I love coming up with powers and figuring out what the complications might be. I'm keeping them all in reserve for potential sequels, though, so they have to stay a secret.

What do you like about each character - Avery, Darla, Sophie, Nicholas, and Catherine? Who do you most relate to?

I like that Avery wants to do the right thing--even if he isn't always sure what that is; Darla's passionate and very never-say-die; Sophie's loyal but also stubborn; Nicholas isn't afraid to speak up with an unpopular opinion; and Catherine's a scrapper, pure and simple. You have to admire someone who won't take your crap. ;)

I relate to parts/pieces of all the characters. I have to find a little smidgeon of something in common with each of them in order to get into their heads. Some of my friends are adamant that I am this character or that character, but I feel like I am all of them and none of them.

Tell us something unique (characters, plot points, publishing woes, cover art, etc.) about Dull Boy that no one else may know about.
In Dull Boy, each major character gets his/her turn in the spotlight with an origin story section or a secret file. There is one super top secret file that never made it into the book. It may show up on my website one day. ;)

If you could pit any two superheroes against one another, which ones would they be? Who would win?
Batman vs. Edward Cullen, for sure. "What if I'm not a superhero? What if I'm the bad guy?" quoth Edward in Twilight, remember? Bruce would show Ed what's up.

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Quoted from... Dull Boy

The fabulous Sarah Cross (if you have not yet experienced her fabulosity, do so now!) provides these excellent buttons on her official author website that also include case bios for each of her characters, though their superpowers are TOP SECRET until summer 2009! Until then, all you of biting humor, feast your eyes on these beauties and release some evil chuckles :D

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BkRv: With our powers combined...

Book Review: Dull Boy by Sarah Cross

YA | Boys | Superheroes

First Line (ARC): It's Friday - another afternoon spent pounding the pavement in search of crimes to stop and people to help. And, as usual, I'm coming up mostly empty.

{Prologue (for lack of a better word): Maybe I need a costume. Trust me - I don't want to wear a costume. Skintight spandex isn't really my thing, the ski-mask-plus-bathing-suit combo didn't exactly inspire confidence when I tried it on (please forget I even mentioned that), and where am I supposed to find a leather jumpsuit? But at this point I have to consider all my options.}

Rating: 3 - No Peter Parker or Bruce Wayne, but Avery has his own charms and humor

I love this cover - the apparent "normalcy" and the destruction of such by the flying fist of a teenaged boy. Not to mention, as you open the book, you get treated with the standard "comic book" font to start each chapter. Have I mentioned that I am a fan of "comic book" font? Because I am!

Avery has superpowers. He is not sure how he got them or why, but he does know that he may be safer to be out in public if he had none. That way he does not have to worry about accidental breaking of another kid's arms in gym class or foolishly attempting to save strangers from criminals, but causing even more trouble! He attempts to use his powers for good by patrolling the streets at night - a.k.a. "studying in the library" as he tells his parents and friends - but tonight he is going to cut his night patrol short and host a surprise party for one of his best friends.

From page 11 (ARC)
I've just been busy lately, and "all heroism, no play" means that the only "super" I've been to my friends lately is super lame. I need to make it up to them, to prove I'm not a deadbeat friend. I'm hoping a kickass birthday party will help.

Which turns out to be a surprise party of one. And the guest of honor is not even there.

Avery is unceremoniously duped by his so-called friends. In order to save face, he remains at the coffee shop with his silly decorations and observes the peculiar actions of 3 other kids, including a really atrocious poetry reading, to attract the attentions of their waitress.

From page 13 (ARC)
Ugh. No offense to poets, but I hate poetry. The only thing worse than people expressing their innermost feelings is when they have to make them rhyme.

Furthermore, Avery inadvertently eavesdrops on their conversation outside which almost sounds like they may know about Avery's superpowers...

Suddenly Avery learns that he may not be the only "weird/special" person out there and that being extraordinary does not have to mean being solitary.

Dull Boy is definitely an superhero origins story, and I have to admit that I typically find such stories a little boring. Throw me in the middle of some action-packed battle between world domination and salvation, and I am a happy camper! If there is a sequel, I hope to see less emphasis on backstory and more on how these teenaged superheroes find their place in the world!

There are actually 5+ superpowered teenagers in Dull Boy with Avery being the main focus. There are some really interesting superpowers including the "sticky" power where you might stick like glue to anything and everything. As an origins story, Dull Boy is also a story about these teenagers becoming friends and helping each other find a way to use their powers for good, even if it seems impossible to do so.

An interesting idea, but I am not sure if Dull Boy delivers as expected. While enjoyable, I did not fall in love with the characters or feel that I got a good sense of who they are. Only glimpses into their natures, but nothing solid in my mind. I like that there are 5 "main" characters, but not enough time was devoted to them except maybe Avery.

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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Book Club: Gallagher Girls series - Chapter 21

Discussion Questions for Chapter 21

Josh remembers Cammie's "fake" birthday, which she even forgot about. Have you ever been caught in a lie that comes back to haunt you?
The Academy appears to have tons of secret passageways that Cammie stumbles upon. How many do you think there are, and do you think anyone knows all of them?
Do you think the adults or Cammie should have told Bex about her father's current MIA status? If it was your friend, what would you have done? If it was your father, would you rather be in the dark until they gather more information?
Cammie finds an unexpected confindante in Macey, who shows compassion in her blunt way. Do you have a similar type of friend whom you can spill your guts to, or do you tend to keep things bottled up inside?

PAST DISCUSSIONS

Ch 1 | Ch 2 | Ch 3 | Ch 4
Ch 5 | Ch 6 | Ch 7 | Ch 8
Ch 9 | Ch 10 | (Ch 11) | Ch 12
Ch 13 | Ch 14 | (Ch 15) | Ch 16
Ch 17 | Ch 18 | (Ch 19) | Ch 20
Ch 21 | Ch 22 | Ch 23 | Ch 24

My two bits from...Reunion

From page 45 to 46
If she had known things could turn out like this, chartered jets with hand-stitched leather seats and burnished walnut tables, silk twill pant suits and everyday diamond earrings, twenty-eight full-time employees whose houses and cars and designer martinis were bought with paychecks she signed... If she could have forecasted her success the way her old WLVC-TV colleague Carl Newman forecasted the weather, she never would have given up her son.

- Or so she liked to think, when the truth was that she wouldn't have stepped onto even the first rung of this ladder if she'd had a child. The whole idea of working as a television journalist was about avoiding Harmony Blue Kucharski by keeping her attention on anyone, on everyone, else. If she had not given up her son, an uneducated single mother with little support and no prospects is what she would have been. Worse off than her mother at nineteen, the child worse off than the child she'd been.

...Well even if she had, she'd still have been a lower-class single mother whose good intentions simply could not come close to providing what that upper-class adoptive home could. Did. Love by itself was not enough to make everything come out happily, she didn't care what all those feel-good movies claimed. She'd loved her son - loved him so much that she had sacrificed her relationship with him. It was the right thing to do.

She was pretty sure.

Lengthy passage, I know, but believe me when I say that I tried to condense it to the essentials. There is a whole lot that goes on in Blue's head throughout Reunion, and this is her principal regret in life. The one that she struggles with every day as she reaches out to her TV audience about life issues and concerns.

And I think everyone has to played the "If I knew then what I know now, would I do different?" mind game at some point in their lives, young and old. In Blue's case, she is fairly honest with herself. Yes, if she knew then what she knows now, that she'd become the Blue Reynolds, she would have kept her son and raised him as a celebrity mom. But her current fame stemmed from her desire to not be who she had been, to bury the heartbroken teenaged druggie and actually become someone worth living. If she had kept her son, she probably would not have gone into television and rather become a mother scrimping to support her son.

We could forever debate whether Blue had made the right decision. The answer would be obvious if she had not become rich and famous, but continued to mess with drugs. However, the truth of the matter is that Blue made this decision, therefore she must live with it for better or for worse. And, rightfully so, she regrets the loss of a son whom she may never know.

If I had been in her shoes, I don't know if I would have given my child up - but I can foresee myself struggling to provide the best for him or her. Would my child be better off with me or with another family who may have better means of providing the best? Would I be better off?

What would you have done? Do you think Blue was right or wrong to give up her son?

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Reunion Blog Tour Participants
Jenn’s Bookshelf | Girls with Books | Popin’s Lair | Blogcritics | Cafe of Dreams | Book Reporter.com | Cafe of Dreams | The Nearsighted Bookworm | Beyond the Books | Bookopolis | Book, Line and Sinker | Introducing WRITERS Radio Show with Kim Smith | Marta’s Meanderings | Between the Covers | The Red Lady’s Reading Room | The Infinite Shelf | Linus’s Blanket | A Book Lover | Savvy Verse and Wit | The Writer’s Life | The Friendly Book Nook | The Epic Rat | The Writer’s Life

Get the Scoop on...Therese Fowler

I am thrilled to present Therese Fowler as a guest on The Epic Rat today! She has been really kind to take some time from her busy schedule and answer some of my questions. Therese is currently in the midst of finishing her third book Breakaway and is enjoying herself as she virtually tours for Reunion which is about a woman who achieved celebrity status but desires the son she gave up for adoption 20 years ago and a love that makes her feel butterflies. See my review here. Get to know Therese better here.

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Some authors write similar "formulaic" stories, but you mentioned that you prefer not to do so. Did you make an effort to make Reunion different from your debut novel Souvenir? Or did it just happen that way?
In considering what sort of writer I am and want to be career-wise, I made the choice not to write to a particular genre formula--which is not to say that I think doing so is a bad or undesirable thing. For me, it's a matter of needing to do something a bit different every time I sit down to write a story, for my own sake as much as anything else. By the time I've finished a book, I've spent the better part of a year inside the characters' heads and amidst the story's plot line, so for me, exploring something different next time out is the key to keeping my work creative and fresh and interesting--so that, I hope, it comes across that way for my readers, too. I do, however, work within some boundaries. Each of my books is a drama, and each is concerned with similar kinds of issues and themes. I'm not going to diverge wildly and write, say, a mystery, and then a comedy. So while Souvenir is a tragic love story and Reunion is a story of discovery, both address mistakes, consequences, pride, loss, love, and redemption.

How did you come across the idea for Reunion and decide to write about it? What do you hope readers will gain from reading this book?
In some ways, this story is an exploration of my own upbringing and youthful dreams, combined with the themes I explore in most of my stories, which are universal concerns for women especially. As with my first novel, Souvenir, I'm considering questions of duty to others versus duty to self, the effects of a disadvantageous upbringing, moral matters that don't have simple answers, and the interplay of past and present when they collide--as they sometimes do in all our lives. Reunion is, at its heart, a story of self-actualization. The journey the characters take in order to find who and what they want in life is, I think, a universal one. And while there are often secrets, mistakes, and misapprehensions in our pasts, we can overcome them and find happiness.

20 years is a long time to hold a secret, especially one that Blue keeps. What are your thoughts about secrets and how long they are kept?
My thought is that secrets operate in primarily two ways: one is that they trouble or even torture us until we find a way to reveal them or are forced into doing it--which means, the longer a secret is kept, the more damage it's liable to do once it's out. The other way a secret operates is as a comfort to the person holding it, as in, Thank God no one knows or ever will know, because no good can come of the revelation. In a case like the latter, the secret is far better off buried forever.

In Blue's case, the struggle of determining which kind of secret hers is has a lot to do with the decisions she ultimately makes, and, in a slightly different way, with the book's "last word," if you will. I can't say more without giving too much away, but once readers finish the book, they'll see what I'm getting at. [Epic Rat: I forgot to mention in my review, but the ending was brilliant and totally satisfying though I wish it could have continued a little longer!]

The US (left) and UK (right) covers are wildly different. Which do you prefer? In what ways, do each of them embody the story?
I'll have to say I prefer the US cover. In my view, it captures the book's essence most accurately and is so evocative and beautiful. The UK edition's cover image is like a spotlight shown on one particular aspect of the story--the subplot involving Blue's search for the child she gave up for adoption--whereas the US edition conveys the overall mood of the book, and Blue's search for not only that child, but for her self.

Tell us one unique thing about Reunion (cover story, publishing woes, characters, writing progress, etc) that no one else may know abut.
I really, really wanted the book to have a different title. Not that Reunion doesn't suit the story pretty well; it does, and it works on multiple levels--though not necessarily the one most of us might expect when coming upon a story with this premise (which is deliberate). The title I wanted was RETURN TO ME, which I think evokes the longing the characters experience. Unfortunately, my publisher had already acquired a book with that title--and because that book was part of a series with similar-sounding titles and would be released around the same time as Reunion, its title couldn't be changed.

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Thank you, Therese, for providing such excellent insight into Reunion - I am looking forward to seeing your next book and also hope to read Souvenir soon!

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Reunion Blog Tour Participants
Jenn’s Bookshelf | Girls with Books | Popin’s Lair | Blogcritics | Cafe of Dreams | Book Reporter.com | Cafe of Dreams | The Nearsighted Bookworm | Beyond the Books | Bookopolis | Book, Line and Sinker | Introducing WRITERS Radio Show with Kim Smith | Marta’s Meanderings | Between the Covers | The Red Lady’s Reading Room | The Infinite Shelf | Linus’s Blanket | A Book Lover | Savvy Verse and Wit | The Writer’s Life | The Friendly Book Nook | The Epic Rat | The Writer’s Life

Monday, May 25, 2009

ZOMBIES sighted in... Reunion

There are so many passages that I wanted to highlight from Reunion, but this one does not really fit well into my review and deserves its own blog post because, if you don't know, I love all things zombie :)

So, imagine my surprise when ZOMBIES showed up in this otherwise non-zombie book!

From page 153 to 154
Blue said, "Anyway, I wanted to go...visit the place, just for a few minutes. I sign the papers tomorrow afternoon, but I haven't seen it at night, and I just thought - "

"That it might be smart to check for obnoxious neighbors who blast their streets at full volume?"

"Right, or - "

"Zombies?"

She laughed, and the sound penetrated, giving him that empty-belly feeling. He nudged the toad again, harder, popping it in the grass.

"I hadn't thought of zombies."

"Huh," he said, "well you should. In fact, I'm pretty sure my high school math teacher was one."

BkRv: First glances, second chances

Book Review: Reunion by Therese Fowler

Fiction | Women

First Line: In Chicago, the snow was falling so hard that, although quite a few pedestrians saw the woman standing on the fire escape nine stories up, none were sure they recognized her.

{From prologue: Her name was Harmony Blue, Harmony Blue Kucharski, not Forrester, as it ought to have been by then. Unmarried, nineteen, she lay in her narrow bed in the smallest of the run-down rental's bedrooms. Her groans had already driven one of her housemates away, leaving only two people to tend her. The midwife, whose name at the time was Meredith Jones, and a teenage girl who wanted to be known as Bat.}

Rating: 5 - Surprised me enough to stay up to finish it!

Note to self: Do not start books on Saturday nights when I have to get up at 6AM the following morning for work. It does not make for a good and conscious morning, even with the coffee.

Blue Reynolds is a daytime talk show host - I would call her the Caucasian equivalent to Oprah, and since this is fiction, ten times more larger-than-life and charismatic. Everything she touches or says turns to gold.

From page 24
"Wholesome" was the word the media often used to describe her, suggesting that somehow her nut-honey-cinnamon hair and her long-legged tomboyish build explained her success. They'd changed their tune a bit when she made it onto the Forbes list. Now she was wholesome and driven, wholesome and savvy, wholesome and well connected and well dressed.

She cannot go anywhere without people recognizing her as Blue. She has everything anyone can possibly want or imagine wanting except one - the son she gave up for a closed adoption 20 years ago. It has been her dark, regrettable secret ever since. A secret she has been trying to uncover since, just to know that he had been in good hands.

Page 4
Pregnant not by a man she loved, not by the man she loved, but by a guy she barely knew, a guy she could not have cared less about. Pregnant and then paralyzed by the mistake, tortured, unable to decide what she wanted to do. Keep it? End it? Indecisive weeks had turned to months, leaving her with a different pair of choices - and even then she'd had trouble choosing, until Meredith helped her see which way to go.

Her show takes her down to Key West for a week for a themed shoot, which turns out to be full of unexpected surprises. Not one for impetuous actions (at least, not anymore), Blue somehow finds herself falling in love with Key West, especially a small cottage house with beautiful birds and greenery. She also bumps into the ex, Mitch, who had been the love of her life who had crushed her heart and caused her tumble into a life of drugs and pregnancy. Their lives have changed since then, but both of them seem to have regret their break-up and want to give it a second chance, come what may, regardless how it affects their loved ones.

From page 61
He didn't want to discuss, with Brenda or anyone, how he'd led Blue on - with respectable intentions, but still - and then broken her heart. And he didn't want to discuss the domestic drama that led him to break things off... His coldness had been an act, to discourage any hope that they would get back together.

From page 117
"What do you suppose she's really like?" Brenda said. "You know, when she isn't being fawned over by zealous fans like the neighbors - and your dad." She laughed. "Did she seem anything like you remembered?"

More. She was everything she'd been as a young woman - engaging and intelligent, always upbeat, always generous - but with the appealing patina of wisdom and experience, like copper after a few seasons of exposure. He said, "Kind of."

From page 123
She pulled the elastic band from her hair and stood at the rail taking stock. A house. An unintended reunion. And maybe, maybe a second-chance long shot that, if it paid out, might right a lot of wrongs in her life. Not all of them, but some. Right some wrongs, and make the future something to look forward to. She had no idea how she really felt about Mitch - too soon for that - nor could she say whether he felt anything at all about her. She did know that she liked the prospect of feeling really good about him, and that was enough for tonight.

And then Blue's secret gets thrown into the public spotlight, throwing a new and shocking look at America's untarnished beloved and perhaps costing her all that she has worked so hard to achieve and maintain...

I was pleasantly surprised at how unputdownable Reunion was! Right from the start, I became immersed with Blue - almost as if I was part of her fan club, but I had the insider scoop that made her less invincible and more human. Her history with Mitch was more complicated than I made it out to be (he being several years older than her with some divorces under his belt) - and I could see the great influence each of them had on the other, but most especially Mitch's influence on Blue. Therese Fowler has an addictive writing style that I really enjoyed and hope to discover again in Souvenir (her debut), although it is said to be very different from Reunion.

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Reunion Blog Tour Participants
Jenn’s Bookshelf | Girls with Books | Popin’s Lair | Blogcritics | Cafe of Dreams | Book Reporter.com | Cafe of Dreams | The Nearsighted Bookworm | Beyond the Books | Bookopolis | Book, Line and Sinker | Introducing WRITERS Radio Show with Kim Smith | Marta’s Meanderings | Between the Covers | The Red Lady’s Reading Room | The Infinite Shelf | Linus’s Blanket | A Book Lover | Savvy Verse and Wit | The Writer’s Life | The Friendly Book Nook | The Epic Rat | The Writer’s Life

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Disclosure 10/7/09:
This is a review copy sent by the publisher as part of the Pump Up Your Book Blog Tours.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

BkRv: My bounty lies over the ocean...

Book Club: Gallagher Girls series - Chapter 22 & 24

Friday, May 29, 2009

BkRv: What he needs is a woman's touch

Thursday, May 28, 2009

May Blog Tour Giveaway

Thursday Thereabouts - May 28, 2009

BkRv: In the name of love, one night in the name of love

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Get the Scoop on...Sarah Cross

Quoted from... Dull Boy

BkRv: With our powers combined...

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Book Club: Gallagher Girls series - Chapter 21

My two bits from...Reunion

Get the Scoop on...Therese Fowler

Monday, May 25, 2009

ZOMBIES sighted in... Reunion

BkRv: First glances, second chances

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