Saturday, January 30, 2010

Book Review and Giveaway: Hook and Jill by Andrea Jones

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The re-telling and re-formulating of classic tales have been a part of literature and entertainment  for many years.  Victor Hugo's Les Miserables was made into a popular Broadway musical.  Marvel comics recently produced a Pride and Prejudice graphic novel.  In the 1991 film sequel Hook, Robin Williams became a grown-up Peter Pan.  Popular narrative themes will always be recycled and reincarnated, and we frequently gobble up these tales.  They carry familiar characters that we enjoy, and we like returning to the world we traveled to in the first place.

I've been a fan of James M. Barrie's Peter Pan since I was a child.  Even before seeing the animated Disney film, I owned an illustrated book on tape that nearly became worn out from use.  I enjoyed Robin Williams' interesting take on the boy who finally grew up.  And I continue to enjoy the series of books that Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson have written for children in their Peter and the Starcatchers series.  So, I am certainly not a Pan purist.  Playing with the mythology a bit can be fun.

When Andrea Jones' Hook & Jill arrived for my review, I was more than eager to fly back to the Neverland and spend some time with Peter Pan, Wendy and Captain Hook.  The beautiful cover art was very enticing, promising a lush, exciting adventure.  I expected some twists and turns with the mythology of the story, and this book certainly delivered.

Jones is clearly a well-educated and experienced writer.  This may be her first book, but she exhibits much experience in her craft.  However, I found this book a bit of a challenge to get into at first.  I found Andrea's writing to be lush, but at the same time I was frequently disoriented, not understanding some of the narrative leaps in the story.  This may be due to my weaknesses as a reader, as opposed to any fault in her writing.

Hook & Jill's characters are all the ones we've come to love in the Neverland, but they all develop in ways that I never expected.  Evil characters become decidedly less evil, heroes become murderers.  Attraction blooms in surprising places.  In short, much of the world of Peter Pan is turned upside-down.  Jones does show her respect and admiration for Barrie's source material, but she just develops the characters in ways that he may not have done himself, in my opinion.

Unfortunately, I came to dislike this book immensely.  I did have one particular night when I got caught up in the story, was enjoying it and had hopes for the rest of the novel. In fact, I stayed up too late reading!  However, for the majority of my read I was in states of confusion, disbelief and even revulsion.  There were many times when I wanted to put the book down and walk away.  But as a reviewer, I felt obligated to finish in order to provide an honest, complete critique.

Having said all this, my qualms with the book come mostly from my own personal preferences and weaknesses.  Jones' writing is rich and colorful, almost poetic at times.  My frequent inability to follow her train of thought probably stems from inexperience on my part.  Seasoned readers will probably enjoy her style of writing more than I did. 

Addressing my personal preferences:  There's quite a bit of sexual content in this.  I'm not adverse to romance, but I think I enjoy the likes of Jane Austen and other writers who don't feel the need to spell out every tawdry moment in lusty, explicit detail.  If you're into saucy, steamy tales that get you hot under the collar, this one's for you.

I've read several reviews of Hook & Jill, and in many ways I agree with the positive opinions expressed in them.  Jones is a talented writer who clearly has a love for James Barrie's Neverland.  Her upcoming sequel, Other Oceans, will certainly be well-reviewed by many.  If you're up for a tawdry, magical adventure in Neverland, the world of Hook & Jill is for you.   I enjoy a fun, magical adventure.  But in this case I would have preferred more romance over H&J's explicit sexual content.  There are better ways to address the hints of romance that have always been inherent within Peter Pan.  For me, this was just wasn't it.


This book was provided free of any obligation by Publishing Works, Inc. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.  Publishing Works was launched in 2003 as an independent press specializing in regional titles. Since then, the company has grown dramatically to embody a list of titles that spans diverse genres, age levels, and subject matter. Please visit them at their website, www.publishingworks.com, or view their catalog for a complete list of titles.

To purchase this book or any other book published by Publishing Works, visit their online store here. At checkout, include the Coupon Code BLOG for a 20% DISCOUNT, courtesy of Publishing Works, Inc. and their continued support of book blogging! Happy reading!


**CONTEST NOW CLOSED**




CONTEST TIME!


I may not have been enamored with this book, but I'm sure there are those out there who would love it.  If you'd like to have my copy, I'll ship it out to the winner of this giveaway.


Here are the contest rules:
  • Leave a comment below; this counts as your entry.
  • Entries accepted until 11:59pm on Saturday, February 13th
  • Open to U.S. addresses only.
  • Make sure your posted comment includes your email address
  • I will compile the entries and the winner will be chosen by Random.org, so even one entry can make you a winner!
  • Should you win, I will contact you on Sunday the 14th.  Please take measures to ensure that my email will not hit your spam folder, lest you miss my message! (CalicoCritic@gmail.com) You'll have 72 hours to respond before I pick another winner.
  • More information on the giveaway policies can be found on the Contact / Policies page.

Bonus Entries (Please make note of your bonus entries in your comment):
  • Follow the blog by clicking on the Google "Follow" button on my sidebar (old or new followers both get the bonus entry, just let me know you're following).
  • Follow me (@LHartness) on Twitter (Please tell me your @UserName).
  • Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter; be sure to use @LHartness and an URL to this contest in your tweet. You may do this as much as every 8 hours a day between now and February 13th.  For each tweet, please come back and post the URL link to that specific tweet, not just your @Username.    Here's an example of a Tweet, which I posted at about 11:30am on 1/30/10.  Feel free to copy any part of it to retweet:



    My review of Andrea Jones' "Hook & Jill" is up, and I'm offering my copy up in a giveaway. http://ead2afc1.qvvo.com

    And here's the direct URL to that specific tweet:
    http://twitter.com/lhartness/status/8416604315 
Hopefully that's not too complicated!  Thanks for stopping by the blog, and good luck to the contest entrants!





CymLowell

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Contests of the Week - January 27th

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This is my weekly post, listing some of the giveaways I'm entering around the blogosphere.  Also, take note of the new button on the lefthand side of the Calico Critic.  The link to Prizey.net will take you to a full listing of all the contests that I'm currently running on the blog. Such convenience!

  • Angela at Library Girl Reads is clearing house and giving away several books to make room for her April acquisitions.  Deadline is 2/24.  Here's the link:

  • The long-awaited giveaways of Robin Maxwell's O, Juliet have begun!  Here are some of them:
Allie at Hist-Fic Chick is an O, Juliet giveaway participant.  Deadline is 2/13.
http://histficchick.blogspot.com/2010/02/review-and-giveaway-o-juliet-by-robin.html


Susie at All Things Royal is also participating.  Deadline is 2/13.
http://tudordaughter.blogspot.com/2010/01/o-juliet-by-robin-maxwell-giveaway.html


Lucy at Enchanted by Josephine is giving away a copy.  Deadline is 2/4.  Here's her link:


Lizzy at Historically Obsessed is giving away her ARC.  Deadline is February 4th.
  • Teddy Rose at So Many Precious Books, So Little Time is giving away up to 3 audiobooks of The Swan Thieves.  The deadline is February 5th.  If you'd be so gracious as to mention that Laura Hartness of The Calico Critic sent you, I would be most grateful for the extra point!
  • Seductive Musings is hosting a guest blog post with Sharon Lathan and giving away the first 3 books in her Darcy Saga.  Deadline for the contest is February 6th.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Giveaway Winners for "Blackout" and "The Gospel According to Lost"

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Well folks, I have the winners of the two book contests!  I was amazed at how many entries came in for Blackout, a total of 77!  So here's our winner of Blackout:

HOPE!! 


Congratulations, Hope! I assigned you entry numbers 14-47, and number 45 popped up at the top of my Random.org list.  Click here to see the results on TwitPic.


And the winner of The Gospel According to Lost is:



GAHome2Mom!! 

Congratulations! I assigned you entry numbers 3-5, and number 5 popped up at the top of my Random.org list. You can also click here to see the Random.org results on TwitPic.

Congrats to both of the winners!  I'll be emailing you to get your mailing information.  Thanks to everyone who entered the contest.  And don't forget about the other contest going on this week, a giveaway of James Dashner's The Maze Runner.  Click here to go to the contest post.



UPDATE:  GAHome2Mom has not responded to my emails, so per contest rules, I am now awarding The Gospel According to Lost to a new winner.  I hit Random.org again, and the winner is:

Vera at Luxury Reading!!

I assigned her entry numbers 8 & 9 and number 8 popped up at the top of my Random.org list. You can also click here to see the Random.org results on TwitPic.  Vera, I'll be emailing you to let you know you've won, and you have 48 hours to respond.  If not, I'll draw again.  Thanks for participating!


UPDATE AGAIN:  Vera has not responded to my emails, so per contest rules, I am now awarding The Gospel According to Lost to a new winner.  I hit Random.org again, and the winner is:


I assigned her entry number 2 and number 2 popped up at the top of my Random.org list. You can also click here to see the Random.org results on TwitPic.  Audrey, I'll be emailing you to let you know you've won, and you have 48 hours to respond.  If not, I'll draw again.  Thanks for participating!



UPDATE AGAIN:  AudreyPawdrey has not claimed her prize, so per contest rules, I am now awarding The Gospel According to Lost to a new winner.  I hit Random.org again, and the winner is:

The Unsell Family!!

I assigned them entry number 1, and number 1 popped up at the top of my Random.org list. You can also click here to see the Random.org results on TwitPic.  Unsell Family, I'll be emailing you to let you know you've won, and you have 48 hours to respond.  If not, I'll draw again.  Thanks for participating!



UPDATE AGAIN:  The Unsell Family did not claim their prize, so per contest rules, I am now awarding The Gospel According to Lost to a new winner.  I hit Random.org again, and the winner is:

Wendy!!

I assigned her entry number 6, and number 6 popped up at the top of my Random.org list. You can also click here to see the Random.org results on TwitPic.  Wendy, I'll be emailing you to let you know you've won, and you have 48 hours to respond.  If not, the book will go to our final entrant, Emma.  Thanks for participating!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Contests of the Week - January 20

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This is my weekly post, listing some of the giveaways I'm entering around the blogosphere.  Also, take note of the new button on the lefthand side of the Calico Critic.  The link to Prizey.net will take you to a full listing of all the contests that I'm currently running on the blog. Such convenience!
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  • Catherine at Olive Bites is giving away a lovely necklace from Rafya on Etsy.com.  I don't normally enter contests for items other than books, but this one looked really nice. Deadline is 1/31.
  • Steph at Steph Su Reads is celebrating her blogoversary with a super giveaway! Deadline is 2/28.
  • Boof at Boof's Bookshelf is giving away 3 copies of  Alice I Have Been. Deadline is 1/31.
  • The Boston Bibliophile is giving away a bare-bones galley of The Passage.  Deadline is 1/31.
  • Book Lover Carol is hosting a nice giveaway, awarding the book of your choice if you're the winner.  Deadline is January 25th.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays - January 19 - Hook & Jill


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:


Like a row of knives, each committed to slaughter, [the crocodile's teeth] triggered an uncomfortable memory of Peter's dagger, and his hands wiping a man's blood from it this afternoon.  The warmth receded, and Wendy felt much older than the girl she had been the night she arrived here.

p.18, Hook & Jill by Andrea Jones









This book was provided free of any obligation by Publishing Works, Inc. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.


Publishing Works was launched in 2003 as an independent press specializing in regional titles. Since then, the company has grown dramatically to embody a list of titles that spans diverse genres, age levels, and subject matter. Please visit them at their website, www.publishingworks.com, or view their catalog for a complete list of titles.


To purchase this book or any other book published by Publishing Works, visit their online store here. At checkout, include the Coupon Code BLOG for a 20% DISCOUNT, courtesy of Publishing Works, Inc. and their continued support of book blogging! Happy reading!




Feel free to leave a comment here with any thoughts you have about Hook & Jill.  If you have a teaser of your own to share, post it here or give us your link!  And while you're at it, share your link on MizB's site as well.  Happy reading!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Book Review: The Wives of Henry Oades by Johanna Moran



I placed a request for an ARC of The Wives of Henry Oades purely based on a brief notice that I read in the Shelf Awareness daily newsletter.  In 1892 a man loses his wife in a fire, moves away and remarries years later.  Incredibly, she was alive all along (secretly abducted by local Maori tribesmen) and shows back up in his life.  What to do??

As I write all those plot details, please know that these aren't major spoilers-- the plot points are offered in the basic description on the novel's back cover.  While major incidents, there's more to this story than a simple separation-and-reuniting tale.  The characters take a journey that goes far beyond the massive number of miles they traverse.

Tales of the old American West have never appealed to me. It might be due to the fact that movies of this time period seem to be dusty, lawless and uncomfortable.  These films have influenced my view of the genre.  After receiving the ARC, I realized that much of the story takes place in the frontier, both in New Zealand and in the American West.  I hoped that the story of Henry Oades' family would rise above my usual low expectations of the venue.

From the first sentence, Moran's writing drew me in.  While this might be her first novel, she clearly has a firm grasp of the English language.  She takes us from Britain all the way down to New Zealand, finally ending in California.  We come to know and love the Oades family: Henry, the husband and father always determined to provide for his household.  Margaret, devoted wife and mother to his children.  She's willing to leave their life in England for her husband's career, and later she overcomes incredible odds to return to him.  John, the strong son who survives much in his young life.  Josephine, the daughter whom, like John, we see grow up over the course of the story.  Other family members follow, and over time things become very complicated.

I will stop there with the plot summary, lest I give away too much.  Suffice it to say, I was thoroughly satisfied with The Wives of Henry Oades, both with the style of writing and the compelling nature of the story.  Amazingly enough, it's based on the record of a series of court trials that truly happened.  Given everything that these individuals went through, it's an amazing bit of history.  Ms. Moran has fleshed out the court records in a manner that has brought these events to life in a compelling way.  Certainly, it's worth a bit of your own personal history to spend time with The Wives of Henry Oades.

*************************************************************


The release date for this title is February 9, 2010.  Johanna Moran will be coming to my town on March 11th for a book signing at The Vero Beach Book Center.  I will have her sign the book and will offer it up as a giveaway on The Calico Critic.  So check back here soon to win your own copy!

Friday, January 15, 2010

Flickster Friday - The Maiden Heist


In addition to book reviews, I enjoy critiquing movies as well.  Recently my husband and I watched The Maiden Heist.  Although I enjoyed it, Jonathan really loved the movie.  So he's going to be a guest reviewer this week!  So please welcome...the love of my life...Jonathan Hartness!
**********************************

I had never heard of this movie until my wife brought it home.  As the film had no advertising or press junket, we did not expect a great story.  We were pleasantly surprised.  I would not have put Christopher Walken, Morgan Freeman, and William H. Macy together, but they really complement each other.  And Marcia Gay Harden fits her role perfectly.  Their characters are fleshed out in subtly humorous ways.

The plot follows three men living the quiet autumns of their lives.  They decide to support their passion for three works of art by planning an uncharacteristically bold art heist.  They slowly bumble through a security-busting plan, trying to prove to themselves that they can do it.

The nuances of this film make it a quiet charmer.  I recommend it for a low key evening at home.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Book Review and Giveaway: The Gospel According to Lost by Chris Seay

Title: The Gospel According to Lost
Author: Chris Seay
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 978-0-8499-2072-1
 
When the television show Lost made its debut in 2004, I quickly became a loyal viewer.  The storytelling was like none I had ever seen, and I was captivated by the mystery and intrigue.  Each character on the program had their own narrative, compelling in their own way.  The writing was intelligent and assumed that the audience would be, too.  And while some seasons have been stronger than others, I've seen every episode over the years.

Author Chris Seay, pastor and president of Ecclesia Bible Society has bought into the world of Lost as well.  So much so that he's written The Gospel According to Lost, his take on how the program's themes and characters are echoes and examples of Christian faith, theology and philosophy.

The initial chapters of Seay’s book reflect on Lost in general and begin to draw his first parallels between the show and his Christian faith. He discusses the power of television and how Lost is very different from other programs being produced today.  Major themes that will be discussed in the book are presented.  He discusses the tension of good and evil on the show, as well as in many epic stories.

Chapters 3 through 17 are each devoted to one or two of the show’s characters at a time.  He analyzes their histories, their struggles and how their development frequently can be compared to Biblical and Christian themes.  Each chapter opens with lovely artwork, portraits of the characters done by artist Scott Erickson.  His Epilogue gives recommendations on how to enjoy the upcoming final season in light of what he’s presented to his readers.

As a Lost fan and a Christian, this title was quite fun to read.  It was great preparation for the upcoming (and final) Season 6, debuting on February 2nd, 2010.  Many months have passed since I’ve seen a fresh episode, and going through all the major characters in this way was very enriching.  Not only do I have their story arcs fresh in my mind, but I now have a deeper medium to which I can relate them.

As a reader, though, sometimes I found Seay’s writing to lack a sense of identity.  In one moment he’s spouting high-end vocabulary words that seem out of place in his sentences.  In another moment he’s making parenthetical jokes that are from somewhere out in left field.  While I understood everything he’s presented, the style of writing was somewhat distracting at times.  By the end of the book Seay seemed to find his voice a little better and settled down a bit.  When he wrote from his heart, in language that he would use every day, he did well.  When he tried to sound like a college professor, it came off as stilted and inauthentic.

That being said, The Gospel According to Lost would make a great read for Christian fans of the program.  It’s not suited for people who are unfamiliar with the show, but that’s okay.  Those who read this can easily take the ideas that he presents and share them with others out there, even those who haven’t seen the show.  As he suggests in his Epilogue, use the show’s popularity and the concepts he shares to be a springboard to deeper discussion with those around you.  We are all searching, but in having faith in Christ, none of us are truly Lost.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.






CymLowell






***Contest Now Closed***


And now for the contest!  This one's going to be quick, as I want to get the book out to the winner as soon as possible.  The season premiere is right around the corner, and I'm sure you'd like to read this before it airs.


Here are the contest rules:
  • Leave a comment below; this counts as your entry.
  • Entries accepted until 11:59pm on Saturday, January 23rd
  • Open to U.S. addresses only
  • Make sure your posted comment includes your email address.  Should you win, I will contact you on Sunday the 24th.  Then you'll have 24 hours to respond before I pick another winner.
  • I will compile the entries and the winner will be chosen by Random.org, so even one entry can make you a winner!

Bonus Entries (Please make note of your bonus entries in your comment):
  • Follow the blog by clicking on the Google "Follow" button on my sidebar(old or new followers both get the bonus entry, just let me know you're following).
  • Follow me (@LHartness) on Twitter (Please tell me your @UserName).
  • Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter; be sure to use @LHartness and an URL to this contest in your tweet. You may do this as much as every 8 hours a day between now and January 23rd.  For each tweet, please come back and post the URL link to that specific tweet, not just your @Username.  Here's an example of a Tweet, which I posted at about 12am on 1/14/10.  Feel free to copy any part of it to retweet:
Hey #Lost fans! My review & giveaway of @PastorChrisSeay 's "The Gospel According to Lost" is up! Enter soon! http://c74c3cd1.qvvo.com

         
And here's the direct URL to that specific tweet:
http://twitter.com/lhartness/status/7737175998

Hopefully that's not too complicated!  Thanks for stopping by the blog, and good luck to the contest entrants!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Contests of the Week - January 13

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Now that we've all recovered from New Years, there are lots of contests going on that I'm entering.  Here are a bunch to share with you! 
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  • Kristi at Books and Needlepoint is giving away a copy of the audiobook of The Swan Thieves.  Deadline is February 9th.
  • The Review Broads are giving away a copy of The Swan Thieves.  Deadline is  January 19th-- pretty soon!
http://www.thereviewbroads.com/2010/01/book-reviews-giveaway-swan-thieves.html

       And here's their giveaway of a Winnie the Pooh Valentine's DVD.  It looks really cute!  Deadline is January 22nd.


  • Margaret at Creative Madness is also giving away a copy of The Swan Thieves.  Deadline is January 18th-- hurry!
  • Blog with Bite is giving away Beautiful Creatures.  Deadline is January 22nd.  Here's the link!
  • Lori at Msslaydbug is giving away two Amazon.com gift cards. Come join her blog, now on Google Friend Connect!  Deadline of contest is January 25th.
  • Cym Lowell is giving away a copy of his novel Riddle of Berlin. Deadline is January 25th.

  • Melanie's Musings is giving away a fun Beauty and the Beast-themed gift back. Crazy Beautiful, Beastly and the DVD Belle and the Beast.  Deadline is February 15th.
  • Sheila at  Book Journey is giving away a copy of Nicholas Sparks' The Last Song.  Deadline is February 18th.
  •  Eleni at La Femme Readers is giving away your choice of a 2010 book release (under $25). Deadline is February 15th, so it'll be a post-Valentine gift!
  • Allie at Hist-Fic Chick has a wonderful guest post from Sharon Lathan as well as a giveaway of her first 3 novels in the Darcy Saga series.  Deadline is January 28th.

  • Monica at the Bibliophilic Book Blog is celebrating her 400+ followers with a generous giveaway.  Each of the three winners gets their book of choice or a $20 Amazon gift card. Contest ends January 30th.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

In My Mailbox - January 10


Welcome In My Mailbox on The Calico Critic!  This weekly post reports the books and related materials that have found their way into my collection this week.  This meme is sponsored by The Story Siren and The Printed Page ("In My Mailbox"/"Mailbox Monday").  Thanks to any fellow participants who stop by The Calico Critic!  I'll do my best to get around to as many of your sites as I can this week. 

This week's haul was a little sparse compared to other weeks, but I'm still grateful. They're good additions!  Here are the items that have arrived since January 3rd:


Thursday, January 7th - My husband and I went on a date to see Avatar.  We'd originally planned to go out to our favorite restaurant, The Greenhouse Cafe in Vero Beach.  However, due to the fact that the 3D-showing of Avatar wouldn't fit into that schedule, we decided to skip a fancy dinner. I was still pleased with the date-- the movie was fun and my Chick-fil-a Chicken Sandwich was yummy.  Plus, hubby let me plunder the mall's Waldenbooks (again) which is going out of business.  I got two books for 50% off.


The first book is The Rose Labyrinth by Titania Hardie.  I know this one hasn't been getting 5-star reviews, but I still want to read it.  I remember when it first came out in the specially designed box, including parchment and other items related to the puzzling tale. As I've taken an interest in labyrinths in recent years, this one really drew my attention.  This week's purchase was just the paperback and now I regret not buying the boxed edition, but I'm glad to have this copy just the same.

Another book from the Waldenbooks closeout sale is Darcy and Elizabeth by Linda BerdollI've seen it on the shelves for quite a while and have seen decent reviews for it.  Of course now that I have this one, I feel the need to get Berdoll's previous work, Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife.  It just never ends, does it?



Friday, January 8th - A few days back I became the 200th follower of Sabrina Horande's blog, YA Bliss.  Sabrina was so sweet and sent me a packet of some bookish goodies!  Thankfully it made it to me-- the envelope was practically shredded. This is one of the disadvantages of living in a rural community with no USPS delivery people. Out here we have Bubba in his almost-broken-down Ford Taurus.  We never know where our mail will end up or if it will be intact!  Oh well- the items themselves (bookmarks, decals) survived in fine condition and I shall enjoy them, Sabrina. Thanks!


Finally, I received an ARC of Fireworks Over Toccoa by Jeffrey Stepakoff.  I think this one was sent over by the publisher because I sent in a request from a recent Shelf Awareness daily email.  Either that, or St. Martin's press knew I'd like it and sent it on their own!  Looking forward to this one, especially since there's some buzz that it would make a great movie.

Well, that's it for this week!  I hope everyone is staying warm and curling up with a good book. This extra-cold weather is certainly perfect for it!

Friday, January 8, 2010

Book Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner


Last fall I had the exhilaration of discovering the Hunger Games series.  As I awaited Book 3 of that trilogy, I was pleased to stumble upon The Maze Runner by James Dashner.  Hailed as another exciting, Hunger Games-like dystopian novel, Dashner's work seemed like it would be the perfect intermission entertainment for me.  I was thrilled when I won a copy from Alessandra at Out of the Blue Book Reviews.  Thanks, Alessandra!

Not only did The Maze Runner prove to be an worthy diversion from Suzanne Collins' series, it now holds it's own independent position in my mind.  If I never read Collins again, I'm still on board with Dashner's trilogy. His creation is much like the title-- constantly running, and in a maze-like plot.

It came as no surprise to me when James confirmed my suspicions that he's a fan of the television show Lost. This program is known for it's enigmatic characters and multi-layered plot, much like Dashner's work here.  As The Maze Runner begins, everything is a mystery and confusion abounds.  In fact, I had to power through a number of pages, trying to get past my disorientation and lack of comprehension. I was in the same position as the main character Thomas, clueless and wanting to learn about the world I was inhabiting.

Before long answers began to come forth and I was committed to the story.  However, much like Lost, even as answers were given, more perplexing mysteries emerged.  This made the story quite compelling and yet frustrating at the same time. That being said, it was exhilarating to feel that frustration at the end of many of the Cliff-hanging chapters.  Many times I found myself exclaiming in consternation,"I thought I was going to bed!  Now I've got to read another chapter!  Gaaaah!!"

I offer few plot details in this review.  I specifically avoided spoiler information as I pursued my copy of the book, and I'm glad I went into the first reading with little knowledge of the story.  If you're able to do this as well, I'd recommend it.  I'm going to try to do the same for Books 2 & 3.  As I understand it, Book 2 is going to be titled The Scorch Trials and will be released on October 6, 2010.  Book 3 is currently being written.

Beware:  The Maze Runner is an incredibly fun read, but like the season finales of Lost, it concludes with a huge Cliffhanger, leaving many mysterious issues unresolved.  If you can stand the pain of that possibility, I'd encourage you to read the book anytime.  Otherwise, you may want to wait for Scorch Trials before starting Maze Runner.  Of course, I'd be willing to bet that Trials will have it's own tantalizing ending as well, so I'll be in for another test in patient expectation after Book 2 myself.

Bottom line:  A great read.  Have patience with the questions. Be ready for the unexpected.  But don't miss The Maze Runner!


Parental Note:
As this book is technically in the YA category, I keep my boys in mind as I read.  My eldest is only 9 at this time, but he's inches away from reading YA.  Would this be the kind of thing I'd let him read in a few years?  Overall, the content is YA-appropriate..  There's really no sexual content, and while the characters use colorful language, the curse words are ones that Dashner has fabricated. This technique was also used in Battlestar Galactica with the use of the word "frak", only in this world it's "shuck" and other similar terms.  There's also a decent amount of battling going on between various characters, sometimes culminating in much bloodletting. So with these thoughts in mind, I'd recommend this series for teens and above, giving it a soft PG-13 rating.

Again, overall this was a fabulous story.  The climactic ending of The Maze Runner still hangs in my mind, and I'm eager to find out where Dashner is going to take us next.  I'm not sure what to believe, who may be the force for good (W.I.C.K.E.D.??) and what direction this plot is going.  I loved getting lost in the Maze and look forward to another installment this fall.  Thanks James, for bringing us into this labyrinthian world!


For more information on James Dashner, visit his highly entertaining blog: http://jamesdashner.blogspot.com/

In this short two minute video, James discusses The Maze Runner:




Here's the URL for the Maze Runner:  http://www.randomhouse.com/teens/mazerunner/ 

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays - January 5 - The Gospel According to Lost


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:


The Gospel According to Lost is an exploration of the seemingly infinite ideas, philosophies, scientific observations, and biblical metaphors that make the Lost story are [sic] more than engaging, but educational.  It is an invitation to dive deep into a fascinating narrative, to be suspended upon a web that weaves in truth from Flannery O'Connor, quantum physics, and the Enlightenment, as well as postmodern philosophy, ancient mystics, and the Bible.

p.xxii-xxiv, The Gospel According to Lost
                             by Chris Seay


I'm trying to get this book read and reviewed for Thomas Nelson, Inc. as soon as possible. As the show is going to debut February 2,  I'd like to host a giveaway so that a Lost fan can receive this before or near the start of the final season.  So check back very soon!  I'll be sure to announce it on Twitter, so be sure to follow me there (@LHartness).

Feel free to leave a comment here with any thoughts/questions about the book.  If you have a teaser to share, post it here or give us your link!  And while you're at it, share your link on MizB's site as well.  Happy reading!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

In My Mailbox - January 3


Welcome to the weekly In My Mailbox report.  This weekly meme is sponsored by The Story Siren and The Printed Page ("In My Mailbox"/"Mailbox Monday").  Thanks to any fellow participants who stop by The Calico Critic!  I'll do my best to get around to as many of your sites as I can this week. 

After last week's avalanche of goodies, I appreciated the books that did make it in this week!  Here are the books that have arrived since December 27th:



Wednesday the 30th -


  • ARC of One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni .  You can request your own copy while supplies last at:  




  • Give God a Year book and kit, ordered from Amazon.com as a New Year's gift to myself.  I've gotten really off track in my weight loss/maintenance efforts, and I hope this will help.  I want to get back to a more balanced life, as was seen in my now out-of-date blog, First Place Victory.  The kit comes with Carole Lewis' book Give God a Year, a motivational 365-day tear off calendar, fridge magnet, coffee mug, audio CD from Carole, journal & pen.  For more information on First Place 4 Health, the program associated with this kit, go to FirstPlace4Health.com.


  • Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, won in a Twitter giveaway. Thanks, @Scholastic!







Thursday the 31st - 



I hope everyone had a marvelous New Years' Eve and and I wish many blessings to you in this new year and decade. I don't know what you experienced, but the past year and decade has been rough. I feel hopeful that good times are ahead, not to mention lots of fun books to read and review!

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Giveaway - Blackout by Elam & Yohn


Now that the Super Bowl is right around the corner, I thought I'd remind my readers of the book Blackout by Jason Elam (former kicker for the Atlanta Falcons) and Steve Yohn.  You can read my review by going to this previous post.

This was a fun read, and those who have read the other books in this series would definitely enjoy it. I'd like to share my copy with one of my readers, hopefully getting it to them well in advance of the Big Game. This edition is an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) from Tyndale House Publishers. It's a little worn from my carrying it around town with me, but certainly fine for reading.  Would you like to give it a new home?

Here are the contest rules:
  • Leave a comment below; this counts as your entry.
  • Entries accepted until 11:59pm on Saturday, January 23rd
  • Open to U.S. addresses only
  • Make sure your first posted comment includes your email address so that I can contact you on Sunday the 24th.  Should you win, you'll have 48 hours to respond before I pick another winner.
  • Entries will be compiled and winner chosen by Random.org, so even one entry can make you a winner!

Bonus Entries (Please make note of your bonus entries in your comment):

  • Follow the blog by clicking on the Google "Follow" button on my sidebar(old or new followers both get the bonus entry, just let me know you're following).
  • Follow me (@LHartness) on Twitter (Please tell me your @UserName).
  • Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter; be sure to use @LHartness and an URL to this contest in your tweet. You may do this as much as every 8 hours a day between now and January 23rd.  For each tweet, please come back and post the URL link to that specific one.  Here's an example:

Hopefully that's not too complicated!  Thanks for stopping by the blog, and good luck to the contest entrants!