Teaser Tuesdays-February 9, 2010

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, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Daughters of the Witching Hill
Mary Sharratt
Houghton Mifflin,Harcourt

"Anne had stood by me in my hour of deepest humiliation when, twenty-two years ago, the Constable pilloried me for adultery. Pregnant with Kit, the pedlar's bastard, I shrank inside myself, my head and hands locked into the stocks, my face blackened from the sheep dung the crowd lobbed at me."page 40.

Giveway-Drood, by Dan Simmons

To kick off the release of Black Hills by Dan Simmons, Hachette Book Group is generously offering a giveaway of five copies of the paperback edition being released this month. This contest is open to residents of the US and Canada this time. Simply leave a comment below and let me know what appeals to you about Drood or share with us any thoughts about other Dan Simmons books. This contest will run until Valentines Day, because it is my cat Ownen Beanie's Birthday. Good luck to all -- Owen Beanie will be routing for you.

Oh...don't forget to leave your crypted email for me.

Full Description from the Back Cover:

On June 9, 1865, while traveling by train to London with his secret mistress, 53-year-old Charles Dickens--at the height of his powers and popularity, the most famous and successful novelist in the world and perhaps in the history of the world--hurtled into a disaster that changed his life forever. Did Dickens begin living a dark double life after the accident? Were his nightly forays into the worst slums of London and his deepening obsession with corpses, crypts, murder, opium dens, the use of lime pits to dissolve bodies, and a hidden subterranean London mere research . . . or something more terrifying?

Just as he did in The Terror, Dan Simmons draws impeccably from history to create a gloriously engaging and terrifying narrative. Based on the historical details of Charles Dickens's life and narrated by Wilkie Collins (Dickens's friend, frequent collaborator, and Salieri-style secret rival), DROOD explores the still-unsolved mysteries of the famous author's last years and may provide the key to Dickens's final, unfinished work: The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Chilling, haunting, and utterly original, DROOD is Dan Simmons at his powerful best.

Wordless Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Wizard

Black Hills, by Dan Simmons..You Tube Discussion

After I posted my Teaser Tuesday many of you were curious about Black Hills, by Dan Simmons. It is historical fiction yet spiritual and an edgy thriller that takes place over several decades. On the author's web site there is a link to this You Tube Video presenting a discussion by Dan Simmons about his book Black Hills. I thought it was really fascinating, and having read about half the book found his overview added to my understanding of this multi-layered story. I believe after watching this teaser, you will be anxious to read it.

Tuesday Teaser, February 2, 2010

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, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Black Hills by Dan Simmons page 71

"Paha Sapa knows beyond any doubt that Crazy Horse had no fear of a camera, "capturing his soul." The warrior simply would never give his enemy the satisfaction of capturing even an image of him."

Reagan Arthur Book Challenge, February 2, 2010

I just signed up for a new challenge called, The Reagan Arthur Book Challenge. The challenge is pretty simple...

Read the Reagan Arthur Books. Order doesn’t matter and we are defining “reading” as print, audio, or e-book. You don’t have to read all of the books, but we encourage you to read all of those that appeal to you!

This challenge is hosted by that is hosted by Kathy/Bermuda Onion & Julie/Booking Mama.

You've already heard me talk about Black Hills, by Dan Simmons. Well here is your chance to win a copy of this book and many more. This is a low stress challenge for anyone who loves to read. The rules are simple and you can sign up here.
If you are interested in signing up, they have a great giveaway to kick off this new challenge.

My List of Reagan Arthur Books

1. Black Hills, by Dan Simmons

Mailbox Monday, February 1, 2010

As most of you know Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. Thank you once again Marcia for hosting this weekly event. :)

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

This week in my mailbox I received:



Black Hills, by Dan Simmons... from the jacket:

"Dan Simmons seamlessly weaves together the stories of Paha Sapa, Custer, the American West and the "Natural Free Human Beings" known as the Sioux, depicting a tumultuous time in the history of both Native and white Americans. At once a dramatic adventure, a love story, and a tale of supernatural suspense, it amply confirms Dan Simmon's status as one of the great storytellers of our time."

Daughters of the Witching Hill, by Mary Sharratt...from the back-cover.

"Daughters of the Witching Hill brings history to life in a vivid and wrenching account of a family sustained by love as they try to survive the hysteria of a witch hunt.

Interweaving the hard-hitting and well-researched details of the Pendle witch hunt alongside a beautifully imagined story of strong women, family and betrayal, Sharrat has written a novel of intrigue and revelation."

New Author Challenge

I want to thank Teddyree over at Eclectic Reader for posting about this challenge or I wouldn't have heard about it. Yes, I have decided to do this challenge since it is so flexible. Not to mention I just love the badge for this challenge. New Author Challenge is hosted by Literary Escapism, a new blog to add to my blogroll. I included my first book from today's post of Island of the Swans, so I'm on my way. Now if you read my post earlier about getting things done today. I'm not doing very well. So far I'm still reading and posting comments to blogs. But, I'm really enjoying it. So much for planning. LOL

New Author Challenge List

1. Island of the Swans, by Ciji Ware

Review-Island of the Swans, by Ciji Ware

ISLAND OF THE SWANS
by Ciji Ware
Sourcebooks Landmark
9781402222689
Trade Paperback, $15.99/$18.99CAN/£8.99 UK
February 2010
569 pp.
Originally published in 1988



Jane Maxwell (1749-1812) a recalcitrant and headstrong young girl developed into a politically active, powerful, charming and always fashionable woman of wit, as the 4th Duchess of Gordon. As the story opens, Jane frustrated with the role of dutiful daughter, argues with her mother Lady Maxwell as she demands that Jane finishes her sewing. Feisty, stubborn and full of mischief, Jane joins her sisters and childhood friend Thomas Fraser for an adventurous game of pig racing. The day proves disastrous for Jane when a freak accident causes an injury to her index finger leaving only a stub.

As Jane matures she realizes her childhood fondness for Thomas has been replaced with wanton love and desire. She hopes to marry him but is thwarted by her mother who wishes her daughter to marry someone of the aristocracy. Undeterred, Jane and Thomas vow to marry anyway. Both are desperately in love with deep searing desire. When the war in America breaks out, Thomas decides to fight for King George III against the colonists. Jane pleads with Thomas to marry her before he leaves, but fate will step in. Thomas is driven to be a soldier, to make money and gain a respectable rank to enable a better future together. One day word arrives that Thomas has been killed in a bloody massacre with Indians. Some time later it is discovered that Thomas has survived, but by this time Jane has become the 4th Duke of Gordon.

Island of the Swans is a romantic historical drama based on the turbulent life of Jane Maxwell. Ciji Ware has presented an intense story of this star crossed trio as their lives intertwine to produce a stirring sensually tantalizing read. Scenes of lust and desire are so beautifully written, they glow with sparks and simmering embers. Jane is portrayed as an amazingly strong woman of independence, with a deep commitment to her children. Jane’s life is unfolds with historically accurate scenes that show her raising recruits for the King’s army, as well as serving as his advisor. She was known to have promoted the young Robert Burns and posed for the famous painter Sir Joshua Reynolds.

The tempestuous relationship with the Duke, and her untouchable life with Thomas, abounds with lover’s secrets, misspoken words and communications gone awry. Jane Maxwell, the Duchess of Gordon,a woman considered property in the 18th century, had strength and a strong sense of survival. Ahead of her time, a woman you’d want to meet. Unfortunately, according to history, her waning years were sadly inauspicious.


Published originally in 1988, Island of the Swans is an emotionally enveloping story that will tug at your heart with each page turned. Phenomenal storytelling by Ciji Ware.

Disclosure: I received this book from Danielle at Sourcebooks.

Sunday Salon, January 31, 2010

I can't believe it is already the last day of January. It's beautiful outside today and I have a lot of catching up planned. I have to finish a paper for a grad class, organize my taxes, and some mundane household cleaning. However, I would much rather finish a scarf I am making for my sister-in-law and read Dan Simmons new book Black Hills. So this is the quandary I am in. If you look at my things to do list, I have tasks that I consider a chore, and then the fun stuff. Don't you just hate that? So, what would you do? Do you have this same problem? I'd love to hear about it.

Mystery Update...Many of you have asked about Mystery and I thank you so much for your concern and good wishes!!! She does not have the tick disease or any other tick disease she was tested for. That's the good thing. However, she still is not right as she seems stressed and unsettled, lethargic at times and whines a lot. I have to keep an eye on her and watch for patterns and perhaps she has epilepsy. So far no seizure while I am home, but I think she had on on Friday judging from her behavior. Thanks for keeping her in your thoughts.

I finished Island of the Swans by Ciji Ware and will be posting a review shortly. Historical Fiction fans will love this one for sure.

Hope everyone has a great Sunday and start to the work week. Enjoy your day!!