Review: Poisoned Apples

Poisoned Apples: Poems For You, My Pretty

by Christine Heppermann

Why did you choose this book? I wanted to try reading poetry

When did you read this book? September 2015

Who should read this book? feminist readers of poetry

Source: library ebook

Here is a synopsis of Poisoned Apples from Goodreads

Once upon a time...

you were a princess,

or an orphan.

A wicked witch,

fairy godmother,

prom queen,

valedictorian,

team captain,

Big Bad Wolf,

Little Bo Peep.

But you are more than just a hero or

a villain, cursed or charmed. You are

everything in between.

You are everything.

In fifty poems Christine Heppermann places fairy tales side by side with the modern teenage girl. Powerful and provocative, deadly funny and deadly serious, this collection is one to read, to share, to treasure, and to come back to again and again.

My Review

I picked this one up because I had challenged myself to read a variety of genres from the Goodreads Choice Awards. Unfortunately, this was not an enjoyable read for me. Now it’s possible that this just confirms that poetry is not my thing — I’ve never been a big fan of poetry, but I keep thinking that with enough exposure that could change — not yet, though.

But the other problem I had was with the persistent ‘feminist’ tone of the book. I use quotes because my definition of feminist and the author’s definition of feminist may be different. This book seems to define ‘feminism’ as attributing all of a girl’s problems to men and the pressures of society. I really couldn’t relate to many of the poems, possibly because it is aimed at young adult girls.

One poem in particular, Sleeping Beauty’s Wedding Day, was really annoying to me, outlining a tedious grooming procedure and how tiring it is for the princess. The message seems to be that she is doing primping for someone other than herself, and it is mandatory to please others, presumably a man. This seems to be completely opposite of one poem I actually did enjoy, Nature Lesson. Here the author talks about dress codes and the requirement to ‘cover ourselves’ so as not to distract a boy. She ends with

We say

that if a hiker strays

off the path, trips, and

winds up crippled,

is it really

the canyon’s fault?

One thing I did enjoy about the book are the pictures. The book is illustrated with some wonderfully artistic photography.

I am not the obvious target audience for this book; a young adult girl. I am also not a big fan of poetry. Chances are that if you are either of these you may enjoy this book a lot more than I did. It’s a quick read, so if you think you might be interested, give it a try. As for me, I probably won’t be picking a poetry book up again anytime soon!

My Rating:  ★★1/2      2-1/2 Stars

Library Checkout: September 2015

There is a new meme this month; Library Checkout! Library Checkout is hosted by Shannon at River City Reading. The purpose of the meme is to track our library check-outs, reads, and of particular interest to me, because I always have so many, our books on hold! I will be including both print books and ebooks. I love this idea of tracking, so let’s get started!

Library Books Read

• Packing For Mars by Mary Roach
• Poisoned Apples by Christine Heppermann

Currently Checked Out

• Moloka’i book club set

Returned Unread or Incompletely Read

• Memories of Me by Laura Hedgecock (will try to read again later)

On Hold (some of these are ‘frozen’ until I find time to read them)

• After You by Jojo Moyes
• I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
• The Devil In The White City by Erik Larson
• Hester by Paula Reed
• The Girl On The Train by Paula Hawkins
• A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott
• Fever by Mary Beth Keane
• The Wright Brothers by David McCullough
• Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule by Jennifer Chiaverini
• The Italians by John Hooper

Ok; it’s your turn now! What’s your current status with your local library? Post it on your blog, and share the link on Shannon’s post here.

Nonfiction Book Club: The Devil In The White City

Have you heard about the NonFiction Book Club?  Katie at Doing Dewey is hosting an online NONFICTION book club on her blog! The first month for this club was August, when we read  Packing For Mars by Mary Roach. I didn’t do so well with that one. I started strong, but the truth is, I just finished it up — I’ll be doing a review soon. And I didn’t get around to the September book at all. Other books just kept getting in the way.

The October selection is a good one: The Devil In The White City by Erik Larson. 

Here’s a synopsis from Goodreads.

Author Erik Larson imbues the incredible events surrounding the 1893 Chicago World's Fair with such drama that readers may find themselves checking the book's categorization to be sure that 'The Devil in the White City' is not, in fact, a highly imaginative novel. Larson tells the stories of two men: Daniel H. Burnham, the architect responsible for the fair's construction, and H.H. Holmes, a serial killer masquerading as a charming doctor.

Burnham's challenge was immense. In a short period of time, he was forced to overcome the death of his partner and numerous other obstacles to construct the famous "White City" around which the fair was built. His efforts to complete the project, and the fair's incredible success, are skillfully related along with entertaining appearances by such notables as Buffalo Bill Cody, Susan B. Anthony, Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison.

The activities of the sinister Dr. Holmes, who is believed to be responsible for scores of murders around the time of the fair, are equally remarkable. He devised and erected the World's Fair Hotel, complete with crematorium and gas chamber, near the fairgrounds and used the event as well as his own charismatic personality to lure victims.

I’m not actually sure how much I will participate. I’ve already read the book twice — yup, it’s that good! I want to take part in the discussions, and will if I can remember enough to participate. But I really don’t want to read the book a third time. I have too many books on my shelf I want to get to, including a couple by Erik Larson! I hope you will consider participating though, because the more that take part, the better the discussions -- and fun!

So hop on over to Doing Dewey and read all about the book club selection, then grab a copy of the book and jump in! You can find the kick-off post here.

Review: The Lives Between Us

The Lives Between Us

by Theresa Rizzo

Why did you choose this book? the ethical issues were of interest

When did you read this book? July 2015

Who should read this book? readers who enjoy stories about ethical dilemnas

Source: Penguin First To Read

Here is a synopsis of The Lives Between Us

Book Description:

The Lives Between Us is about family and love. It’s about desperate people doing what they need to, to save the ones they love.

Grief-stricken reporter, Skylar Kendall, plots revenge on Michigan Sen. Hastings who opposed life-saving stem cell research and therapy. She gains access to Hastings, learning secrets that would launch her career and satisfy her need for retribution… Only, she hadn’t counted on falling in love.

Can she avenge the lives lost to politics at the expense of her new love and friends?

Backcover copy:

How far would you go to save the one you love?

Reporter Skylar Kendall has run from commitment all her life, pushing people away before they leave her, until her niece worms her way into Skye’s heart and settles in tight. Skye relaxes into a career she enjoys and relishes being a doting aunt.

Then her niece becomes gravely ill. Unable to bear yet another loss, Skye is determined to find a cure, but the girl’s only hope lies in the embryonic stem cell therapy Michigan Senator Edward Hastings repeatedly opposes. When Skye fails to find alternative treatment in time, she vows to end the senator’s political career.

Curious about the woman behind the scathing articles on his best friend, Mark Dutton pursues Skye. Dating Mark gives her access to Hastings’s life and secrets that would launch Skye's career and satisfy her need for retribution… Only she hadn’t counted on falling in love.

Can she avenge the lives lost to politics at the expense of her new love and friends?

My Review

The author contacted me offering me a review copy of her book after she concluded I would enjoy it based on some of the other books I’ve read. I’m so glad she did. This is exactly the sort of book I enjoy, with plenty of issues to get my ‘thinking’ machine going.

Skylar is a journalist who is very close to her critically ill niece. She is convinced that only stem cell treatments can save her niece. As Skylar works to find a treatment, she comes to realize her Senator, Edward Hastings, is vehemently opposed to using embryonic stem cells. She immediately becomes his ‘enemy’, harassing him at press conferences, writing negative articles, and more. Things become complicated when she begins dating his best friend, Mark Dutton, and even more complicated when she attends a family function and becomes good friends with the Senator’s wife.

I enjoyed the story very much and my only real issue was that it was a little long. I felt like there was just one too many obstacles in the path of romance for Skye and Mark. But that really didn’t detract from the story. There are ethical issues and complications that I have not mentioned because I don’t want to give too much away. However I will say there is much to discuss and this will make a fantastic book club selection. If you have a book club that enjoys debating contemporary issues, or just enjoy reading about them yourself, be sure to give this book a try! You can find discussion questions on the author’s website here.

About Theresa Rizzo

Theresa Rizzo is a bestselling, award-winning author who writes emotional stories that explore the complexity of relationships and families through real-life trials.

Born and raised in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, she currently lives outside of Boulder, Colorado with her husband of thirty-two years. She’s raised four wonderful children who are now scattered across the country.

Theresa's debut book, He Belongs to Me, won the 2014 National Indie Excellence Award for romance and the 2014 Readers Crown Award for Mainstream Women’s Fiction and was a finalist in the General Fiction Category of The 2013 USA Best Book Awards.  

Find Theresa on the web at www.theresarizzo.com, or connect with her on Facebook, twitter or and Goodreads.

My Rating:  ★★★★     4 Stars

I received an review copy of this book from the author, Theresa Rizzo

And The Winner Is.....

And the winners are….

It’s time to announce the winners of some recent giveaways.

The winner of Montpelier Tomorrow is…...Kylie E!

The winner of The Last Summer At Chelsea Beach is…..Leslie M!

Ladies, you should be receiving your book shortly. Enjoy the books, and thanks for reading my blog!

Review: Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy

Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy

by Karen Abbott

Why did you choose this book? women in the Civil War

When did you read this book? September 2015

Who should read this book? readers of history, particular Civil War era

Source: TLC Book Tours

Here is a synopsis of Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy from Goodreads

Karen Abbott, the New York Times bestselling author of Sin in the Second City and “pioneer of sizzle history” (USA Today), tells the spellbinding true story of four women who risked everything to become spies during the Civil War.

Karen Abbott illuminates one of the most fascinating yet little known aspects of the Civil War: the stories of four courageous women—a socialite, a farmgirl, an abolitionist, and a widow—who were spies.

After shooting a Union soldier in her front hall with a pocket pistol, Belle Boyd became a courier and spy for the Confederate army, using her charms to seduce men on both sides. Emma Edmonds cut off her hair and assumed the identity of a man to enlist as a Union private, witnessing the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. The beautiful widow, Rose O’Neale Greenhow, engaged in affairs with powerful Northern politicians to gather intelligence for the Confederacy, and used her young daughter to send information to Southern generals. Elizabeth Van Lew, a wealthy Richmond abolitionist, hid behind her proper Southern manners as she orchestrated a far-reaching espionage ring, right under the noses of suspicious rebel detectives.

Using a wealth of primary source material and interviews with the spies’ descendants, Abbott seamlessly weaves the adventures of these four heroines throughout the tumultuous years of the war. With a cast of real-life characters including Walt Whitman, Nathaniel Hawthorne, General Stonewall Jackson, detective Allan Pinkerton, Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, and Emperor Napoleon III, Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy draws you into the war as these daring women lived it.

Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy contains 39 black & white photos and 3 maps.

My Review

This is the story of four women who acted in untraditional roles during the Civil War. Interestingly, two of the women in this book worked for the Confederate cause and two worked to preserve the Union. I have been wanting to read this one for a long time. I’ve read several fictional accounts of Elizabeth Van Lew (Miss Lizzie’s War and The Spymistress), and listened to a Missed In History episode about Sarah Emma Edmonds, so when I was offered the chance to participate in the book tour, I grabbed it!

As much as I was looking forward to this book, it still took me awhile to get into it. I think that is partially because the book started with the least interesting (to me) woman. But I think I also had to get used to the author’s writing style. I think I had anticipated that the book would tell four different stories, one woman at a time. Instead, she told the story of the war, chronologically, through the eyes of these women. Once I got to know each woman, the story flowed smoothly. I think this would make a great five-part docudrama!

This would also make a great book club selection for the right book club. The book is a little long, and not all book clubs would have the time or desire to tackle this. But for those that are motivated, there is plenty to discuss; the motivations of the women; the ways they influenced the outcome of the war and how things might have turned out differently; the character flaws of the women; the traditional roles of women in this era! There is a reading guide on the author’s website, where you can also find an excerpt.

If you enjoy reading about the Civil War, or enjoy reading about women in non-traditional roles, this one is for you!

You can view an interview of Karen Abbott discussing Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy below.

About Karen Abbott

Karen Abbott is the New York Times bestselling author of Sin in the Second City, American Rose, and, most recently, Liar Temptress Soldier Spy, which was named one of the best books of 2014 by Library Journal, the Christian Science Monitor, Amazon, and Flavorwire, and which was optioned by Sony for a miniseries. A native of Philadelphia, she now lives in New York City, where she’s at work on her next book.

Find out more about Karen at her website.

My Rating:  ★★★★   4 Stars

This book review is included in a tour by TLC Book Tours. I was provided a copy for review purposes.

Karen’s Tour Stops

Tuesday, September 8th: A Bookish Affair

Wednesday, September 9th: Let Them Read Books – guest post

Thursday, September 9th: The Maiden’s Court

Friday, September 11th: Cold Read

Monday, September 14th: Raven Haired Girl

Monday, September 14th: 100 Pages a Day … Stephanie’s Book Reviews

Tuesday, September 15th: Sveltana’s Reads and Views

Wednesday, September 16th: Man of La Book

Thursday, September 17th: Bookworm Meets Bookworm

Monday, September 21st: A Book Geek

Tuesday, September 22nd: Time 2 Read

Wednesday, September 23rd: As I turn the pages

Thursday, September 24th: FictionZeal

Tuesday, September 29th: Raven Haired Girl – guest post

Thursday, October 1st: Unabridged Chick

Fall 2015 Bloggiesta Wrap-up

Fall Bloggiesta was this past weekend and it is time to check-in. I had a lot on my list, and didn’t quite finish — it IS still baseball season and the Cardinals ARE still in a pennant race, after all — but I do feel like I accomplished a lot. At least I’m not feeling so overwhelmed and instead feel like I may be able to get my blogging back on track!

Here is the Bloggiesta ‘bucket list’ I worked from! (See my initial post here.)

• Back up blog!!!
• Write and schedule at least 3 reviews
• Update review page to link all reviews
• Cross post reviews to Goodreads and Library Thing
• Link reviews to Pinterest
• Update my Reading spreadsheet
• Start October Reading Map post
• Schedule one On My Radar post
• Create at least one non-review post come up with topics for at least two more

And here is what I accomplished.

1. √ Blog back-up - DONE!

2.   Write and schedule at least 3 interviews - partially done
1. I have written 3 reviews but so far only scheduled one on my blog. I should be able to figure out dates and schedule the others by the end of the week. The reviews written are for:
1. Liar, Temptress, Solidier, Spy
2. Sisters of Shiloh
3. The Lives Between Us

3. √ Update review page to link all reviews – DONE!

4. Cross post reviews to Goodreads and Library Thing - partially done
1. I was much further behind than I realized. I had NO IDEA that I haven’t done this since April! I got about a half dozen reviews cross-posted and will work on the others. But I do feel I made good progress, because I now have a checklist of all my reviews posted in 2015 so that I can go down the list and check-them off as I cross-post!

5. √ Link reviews to Pinterest - DONE!

6. √ Update my Reading spreadsheet - DONE!
7. √ Start October Reading Map post - DONE!
1. I have a list of books to narrow down and plug in and then I can post. There is still a week to go this month and I’m not sure how much of my list I will whittle down before the end of the month.

8. √ Schedule on Reading Map post - DONE!
1. okay, I haven’t actually scheduled it yet, but it is written and ready to post, so it counts, right?

9. Create at least one non-review post come up with topics for at least two more
1. I haven’t actually written a post yet, but I do have a list of about a half dozen topics to write about, so I can’t quite mark this ‘done’ but it is definitely a good start!

There’s my weekend. How did you do? Did you accomplish all that you set out to do this weekend? You can check out how other Fall 2015 Bloggiesta participants fared here.

Waiting on Wednesday: After You

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we spotlight upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating!

After You

Me Before You #2

by Jojo Moyes

Expected Publication Date: September 29, 2015

Synopsis from Goodreads

I haven’t participated in this meme for awhile, and I probably won’t be a regular here, but I came across this interview with Jojo Moyes that I want to share.

The first thing to know about After You is that it is a sequel to Me Before You. If you haven’t read it yet, you MUST go do that now! I haven’t read After You yet, but I’m pretty sure it is not going to work as a stand-alone. Even if it does, you will not want to skip Me Before You. You can read my review here.

Here is the interview with Jojo Moyes. It does NOT contain spoilers, so feel free to watch.

And here is the synopsis from Goodreads. It does appear to have, if not spoilers, at least some things I’d rather not know until I come across them in the book. I’ve only skimmed it, but I’m including it for those who are on the fence about reading it.

How do you move on after losing the person you loved? How do you build a life worth living?

Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him. When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can’t help but feel she’s right back where she started.

Her body heals, but Lou herself knows that she needs to be kick-started back to life. Which is how she ends up in a church basement with the members of the Moving On support group, who share insights, laughter, frustrations, and terrible cookies. They will also lead her to the strong, capable Sam Fielding—the paramedic, whose business is life and death, and the one man who might be able to understand her. Then a figure from Will’s past appears and hijacks all her plans, propelling her into a very different future. . . .

For Lou Clark, life after Will Traynor means learning to fall in love again, with all the risks that brings. But here Jojo Moyes gives us two families, as real as our own, whose joys and sorrows will touch you deeply, and where both changes and surprises await.

After You is quintessential Jojo Moyes—a novel that will make you laugh, cry, and rejoice at being back in the world she creates. Here she does what few novelists can do—revisits beloved characters and takes them to places neither they nor we ever expected.