Author Signing (and spotlight)

I always get excited about author signings, but unfortunately not many happen in Idaho or Hawaii. This one is really only relevant to Cami, but I thought you all might be interested in the author and books anyway.
Joanne Fluke is a best selling author of a mystery series (which Shiloh has read and really enjoyed). To promote her new book Apple Turnover Murder, she will be holding a signing in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on March 4th. It will actually be a discussion and a signing on the beach. Details at her website (linked below).
A little about Joanne Fluke taken from her website: Like Hannah Swensen, Joanne Fluke grew up in a small town in rural Minnesota where her neighbors were friendly, the winters were fierce, and the biggest scandal was the spotting of unidentified male undergarments on a young widow's clothesline. She insists that there really are 10,000 lakes and the mosquito is NOT the state bird.

While pursuing her writing career, Joanne has worked as: a public school teacher, a psychologist, a musician, a private detective's assistant, a corporate, legal, and pharmaceutical secretary, a short order cook, a florist's assistant, a caterer and party planner, a computer consultant on a now-defunct operating system, a production assistant on a TV quiz show, half of a screenwriting team with her husband, and a mother, wife, and homemaker.

She now lives in Southern California with her husband, her kids, his kids, their three dogs, one elderly tabby, and several noisy rats in the attic.


This should be a fun discussion and signing and I can't wait to read my first Joanne Fluke novel as each is not only a mystery, but also is said to include delicious recipes!
For more info visit her website: www.murdershebaked.com

February's Book

Dad dictated the following to me and asked me to post it.
Mom

ATLAS SHRUGGED

Originally titled The Strike, this novel is a unique blend of drama, adventure, politics, intrigue, economics, mystery and of course, just a little bit of sex. Enough to keep me interested but not enough to make me blush.

(Funny, we girls would have just called it romance. -- mom)

The author, Ayn Rand, had a very unique perspective when she wrote the book in the early 1950's. She was born in Russia and as a young woman experienced first hand life under the czars and 2 revolutions, the last being the Bolshevik Revolution which brought communism to Russia. After immigrating to the U.S. she became a screen writer in Hollywood and thus intimately aquainted with the Communist movement in the McCarthy Era.

The main drawback to the book is it's length. The author is very wordy and at times a little repetative. The book would have been better if it were 300 pages shorter. If you will just make it (suffer) through the first couple of chapters and get introduced to the characters and the plot, you will be hooked. It is notable that Ms. Rand's social and political views are totally void of religion, emotion and sentimentality, but the political insights to our present day will leave you shock-ed and amaze-ed.

All in all, I enjoyed this book not only for the story, but also for the economic theory.

Prepare to Shrug! - Dad

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

Due to the length of this book we will extend the reading time to the 15th of March or approximately 6 weeks. The last two weeks of March will be used for some short, fun assignments. On your marks. Get set. READ!!!!!

Shadow on The Trail Discussion is Officially Open!

If you haven't finished the book you still have time to finish it today. I think I actually put all of the reasons why I like the book on the introduction post.... Well, except for telling you I think I developed a crush on Wade Holden. :-) Let me know what you think. Did you see a man trying to find his own way to redemption? Or did you find some other hidden meaning in this western. Oh, And if this was your first Western, or first Zane Grey novel please tell us. I am interested in learning how many of you have read westerns before. Let me hear your thoughts. Love you!

Literature Poll: Best and Worst Film Adaptations

I thought I'd have a little fun and see what everyone thought were the best and worst film adaptations of books. The answers were varied and thought provoking. Some people submitted more than one for each category and some judged movies by different criteria. For example, mom judged her choices by which one she enjoyed more, while Hillary tended to judge by which one's stuck the most closely to the book's storyline. But there were some that received more votes than others and those are the winners.
For Best Film Adaptation: The BBC version of Pride and Prejudice is not only the best version of the book, but the best movie adaptation of any book. Colin Firth is by far the best Darcy EVER! It holds true to the book while still being entertaining. And who cares if it's five hours?


And the Worst Movie Adaptation:
Wow. I've seen road shows with better acting and more authenticity.


Best Movie Honorable Mentions: The Spiderwick Chronicles, The Last of the Mohicans, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Sense and Sensibility, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Angels & Demons.

Worst Movie Honorable Mentions: The Cat in the Hat, Ella Enchanted, Summer of the Monkeys and Beowulf (2007 version).

Literature Trivia

You have one week to leave a comment with your answer.
What was the first novel written on a typewriter?
Good luck!

Oops!

I accidently posted my personal blog on this page. I have removed it. Sorry about that.

Book Review: The Looking Glass Wars.

Many of us are familiar with the story by Lewis Carroll (AKA Charles Dodgson) about a girl named Alice who fell into a Rabbit Hole and entered the magical world of Wonderland. After her first adventure in wonderland, she proceeded to step through the looking glass and return to wonderland for further adventures.

According to the author of the Looking glass wars, Frank Beddor, This is a twisted myth version of the even more twisted reality of it all. He claims that Wonderland is real and Alyss Heart is the heir to the throne, until her murderous Aunt Redd steals the crown and kills Alyss' parents. To escape Redd, Alyss and her awesome ninja-like blade bedecked bodyguard, Hatter Madigan, Must flee wonderland through the pool off tears which is a portal to Earth. However Alyss and Hatter are separated in the pool and she ends up alone in Victorian era London, where she is adopted by the Liddel family and renamed Alice. She befriends an aspiring author who wishes to tell her story but gets it all wrong.
Hatter Madigan came out of the Pool of Tears in Paris and spends the next 13 years searching the earth over for Alyss before he finds her.
Meanwhile in Wonderland the loyalists to the Heart dynasty "The Alyssians" are barely holding on. They have been crushed and murdered and beheaded by the evil queen Redd. Their resistance is dwindling to just a few card soldiers, a handful of chessmen, the great General Doppleganger (who has the ability to split into two people Generals Dopple and Ganger), and Alyss' childhood sweetheart Dodge Anders, Who is suicidal in battle because he just doesn't care to live anymore.
Now it is all up to Hatter Madigan to get Alyss back to claim her throne before the resistance is completely gone.

This book is extremely imaginative and very entertaining, with all of the elements for a good tale, Action, Romance, Suspense, and Rivalry. It also has all of the creations of Caroll's story and more. What Carroll described as a Cheshire cat, Beddor claims was actually a half cat half human assassin with nine lives. Carroll's White Rabbit was based on Alyss' tutor Bibwit Harte, a 7 foot tall albino with large ears and uncanny punctuality. My personal favorite however, were the caterpillars, the wise all-seeing omniscient creatures as old as wonderland itself who sit on mushrooms all day puffing on Hookahs using phrases like "Duh," "Wierdest sense of Deja Vu," and "Pass the Munchies."
Beddor's Military structure is fun too. Pawns and two cards being the lowest ranking soldiers, Ten cards, Knights and Rooks near the top. But the most elite branch of the governments forces is the one Hatter Madigan himself is part of, The Millinery. Sort of like our NSA or CIA.

The coolest thing for me when I read this book was the way that wonderland parallels Earth. For example July of 1863 in Wonderland The Alyssians won a major battle that was a positive turning point for them. In July of 1863 the Battle of Gettysburg was fought. In September 1869 a squad of surrounded Alyssians commit suicide rather than being captured by Redd. September of 1869 defeated Japanese Swordsmen committed mass suicide in the Boshin War. The first book is the only one with a time line, but it is fun to read the second and third books and draw the Earth to Wonderland Parallels yourself.

With likable characters (I think I'm in love with Dodge), New artillery at every turn, perfectly timed comedic relief, and the best sound effects ever written on paper, this book is a MUST READ! The fact that it is written for children aged 10 - 15 Makes it even better because you don't have to worry about who finds the book lying around your house, and it is easier to understand. But I promise, No Matter How Old You are THE LOOKING GLASS WARS will leave you begging for MORE. Thank Goodness that the third and final book was released in November and you won't have to wait to continue the story. The sequels are called SEEING REDD and ARCHENEMY

Oh and by the way, these aren't exactly Disney's card soldiers.




I do however recommend reading Lewis Carroll's poem Jabberwocky before reading these books. The nonsense words will make more sense that way.

I hope you enjoyed my review.
Hillary