The Printed Page

The President has The State of the Union, Governors have The State of the State, Mayors even have The State of the City. Me, I have The State of The Bookcase. Yes folks here it is the brand spanking new, most loved piece of the furniture in the Larsen home. Behold The Bookcase. Most of you are laughing right now because it holds a pitiful number of books compared to your toppling TBR piles. These are not all the books in house just the ones honored enough to make The Bookcase their home. Currently it’s offering shelter to my ARCs, requested books and those I deem worthy. As of Tuesday night it held 60 books. One, The Ride, is now off The Bookcase and looking for a new home. Today I’m starting Regina’s Closet: Finding My Grandmother’s Secret Journal so it’s temporarily housed here and will be moving soon to another, undisclosed location.

The State of The Bookcase will become a regular feature here at The Printed Page every month. So be sure and stop by checking out whether the books have increased or decreased.

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Today’s pondering:

I read this book so fast I didn’t even have time to post a starting or mid-point Pondering before I was finished with it. This is second book I’ve read this month titled The Ride. While both books were different kinds of rides both tugged at my emotions.

I’ve found myself a new horror author. Man oh man this book has the creepy factor. My only problem is this author doesn’t have a very big back list for me to read my way through. His has one other book in print, The Rain and he’s working on his third, tentatively titled The Lord of All Imaginary Things . The Ride by Tom Brandner has your requisite things that go bump in the basement, shadows that pass across your line of sight, the crawly things that come up out of the river and variety of other other worldly beings. It was squeamish in places, I was squirming in my chair, but not so over the top that it made me gag. I give it a high Ew! rating. It was extremely fast paced and at times my heart was pounding. It reminded me a lot of Dean Koontz’s earlier novels and I love those books. While it didn’t keep me up with nightmares and wondering what was lurking in the deep, dark corners of my house. It did keep me up turning pages long past when I should have been snuggled fast asleep in bed. The 346 pages flew by and putting it down was a struggle. I have to admit I love the battles of good vs. evil. The triumphant of right over wrong. Getting a ‘do over’ and getting it right. Sparks flew, lighting cracked, the sky darkened and we lived to fight another day. Sign me up to read this author’s work any time.

Title: The Ride Author: Tom Brandner Publisher: Grey Swan Press Publication date: April ’09 Pages: 346 Genre: Horror Challenges: ARC/’09 Pub/New author

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Today’s pondering:

This pondering is a continuation of yesterday’s hence the 1/2. Like many people I recorded the presidential inauguration a week ago Tuesday. Though I work surrounded by TVs, a call center for satellite entertainment, I felt this was defining moment in our nation’s history that I couldn’t miss.

Yesterday was the first opportunity I’ve had to sit down and watch this momentous event. What made it even more poignant was I reading the second half of Soul Catcher. A book about slavery, it’s moral implications and profound impact on this nation as viewed by two individuals on either side of the issue – Cain, a soul catcher and Rosetta, a runaway slave. As I watched then President-elect Obama I was struck over and over by how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go. One minute I’m reading about a repressed segment of our society, the next I’m watching a man with repression in his family background take the oath of the highest office in this country.

Once upon a time the nay sayers said we’d never elect an Irish Catholic to White House and we did. Now we’ve elected an American of ethnic origin and watching the crowds on the Mall made me believe that this is still the greatest country in the world and I’m proud to live here.

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Today’s ponderings:

I’ve literally just turned the last page on Soul Catcher by Michael White. I’m contemplating what I’ll write in the post as my Kindle sits beside me on the table. For the most part this was a very good book but parts of the story line were a stretch of the imagination for me and I had trouble reconciling that some of the scenes could have happened as portrayed.

Soul catcher: That’s what blacks called men like them, as bad as it was to have their bodies brought back to bondage, it was a thing far worse that their very souls were being snatched from them. [Soul Catcher, Kindle section 643-48]

Cain and crew capture the runaways and start on the journey of returning them to their master. Along the way Cain and the other men go their separate ways because the male slave has run yet again. They decide to meet up at some point in time before making the last of the trek to the plantation. Cain and Rosetta set out on their own. From here on this becomes a personal journey for both. They have deeply troubling issues to struggle with, both alone and together. For Rosetta the issues are fundamental as the history of the institution of slavery has been well documented. For Cain the battle is within himself. He was raised with the acceptance of slavery as it is and what it will be but not with it’s moral implications. This will become a battle of deep seated emotions but for now he has a job a to do, and nothing more, for which he will be richly rewarded. Though he’s done this many times before, returning slaves to masters, this time is different. He finds that returning Rosetta to this particular master is more than he is willing to accept. He must face the demons. He must silence what torments him or risk his very existence. I won’t say any more as I don’t want to spoil this book for you, the readers.

Except for a few scenes, for realistic reasoning, I found it very enjoyable and interesting reading. I found Cain to be a complex and intriguing character. While I wasn’t fond of Preacher, and no one should be, I found him essential to the story. I actually missed him when the men parted ways as the flaws in Preacher highlight the best in Cain.

Title: Soul Catcher Author: Michael C. White Publisher: Harper Perennial Publication date: September ’08 Pages: 448 Genre: Historical fiction Challenges: New author/Ebook

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So now it’s toss up between two books. The debate is between a favorite author, Kristin Hannah, and her new book True Colors or a new-to-me horror author, Tom Brandner and his new release, The Ride. Now if I pick Mr. Brander’s book I will have read two books in the same month with the exact same title but completely different story lines. Can’t say as I’ve ever done that before. I really enjoy good horror writing. I’m a big fan of both Dean Koontz, especially his older work, and Bentley Little. Dare I mention that the one Stephen King book I picked up years ago I put down and didn’t finish? Am I now doomed to book bloggers purgatory for this lapse in supposed good reading judgement?

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Now for the giddy feeling I’m getting from feeling like I’m finally living in a book lover’s home. For years the entertainment center has held all the wonderful toys that make my spouse’s life a thing of joy. He has more remotes that Best Buy and on any given day he can’t remember where they all are or what blasted piece of equipment they’re supposed to turn off and on. When we bought this beautiful piece of furniture years ago I thought my books would live in harmony with the gadgets and gizmos. But alas that was not to be and they’ve been relegated to the back bedroom upstairs. For the last several months we’ve talked about buying me a bookcase to display my treasures – all talk, no action. So wandering through Target yesterday, dangerous behavior, I spied an almost matching 5-shelf bookcase. No second glances, no second thoughts. I promptly snagged a couple of strong but bored Target employees and had them load my shiny new bookcase in the SUV. I just knew that the gas hog would be good for something besides hauling me back and forth to work on my 9 mile commute. (No don’t tell me about your commute as I did my 3-hours a day for years so I deserve my measly little 15 minute luxury ride.) Back to the bookcase. Without one protesting murmur from said spouse my bookcase was put together with minimum of fuss and now resides in the corner beside my recliner. Upon entering the room I can see my books and feel like I’m home.

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What’s on Your Nightstand is hosted over at 5 Minutes for Books.

Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. Sarah’s Key is the featured book of a new book event, By the Chapter. Join Dar from Peeking Between the Pages and myself the week of February 9th as we read and discuss what is sure to be a great book. It’s been getting high marks throughout the blogging community since it’s September release.

Regina’s Closet: Finding My Grandmother’s Secret Journal by Diana M. Raab

True Colors by Kristin Hannah

Promises in Death by J.D. Robb

Jill at Breaking the Spine hosts Waiting on Wednesday. I’m a big fan of this series and will have it loaded on the Kindle within minutes of it’s release. This week’s pre-publication ‘can’t-wait-to-read’ selection is:

Title: Promises in Death Author: J.D. Robb Publication date: February ’09 Mystery

From Fantastic Fiction: Every cop gets angry when a police officer is killed. And Lieutenant Eve Dallas is no exception. But Amarylis Coltraine was also in a relationship with one of Eve’s closest colleagues, so after Eve has delivered the terrible news to him, she throws every resource she has into finding the killer. When she finds a link to the son of a criminal she and her husband Roarke had put behind bars, the case heats up even further. Alex Ricker was romantically involved with Amarylis. Did she leak information to him and then have a change of heart? Eve puts herself in danger to get to the truth but she can’t prevent another death before she learns who betrayed both the criminal’s son and the police officer he loved…

Today’s ponderings:

I’m currently reading Soul Catcher by Michael White.

Soul catcher: That’s what blacks called men like them, as bad as it was to have their bodies brought back to bondage, it was a thing far worse that their very souls were being snatched from them. [Soul Catcher, Kindle section 643-48]

As the book opens Cain must pay off a gambling debt. Unfortunately for him he doesn’t have the cash handy to do so. He offers to make good on this debt but the note holder is having none of it. Cain finds that in his drunken stupidity he has the done the one thing he vowed never to do no matter the situation, he’s put his horse, Hermes, up as collateral. Cain loves his horse beyond measure. Right now I’m pretty sure it’s the one thing, maybe the only thing, Cain truly cares about. For Cain not to lose Hermes he agrees to track down two runaway slaves. While this is the last thing Cain wants to do he sees no other way out. And Cain is good at what he does, in fact very good. He’s made his reputation tracking runaway slaves. While he’s vowed many a time to quit his love of drinking, gambling and women keep him tied to a profession he wants no part of.

Cain was raised the son of small plantation owner. His father owned maybe a dozen or so slaves but had dreams of marrying his son into a wealthier family and increasing the family holdings. Cain had other ideas. He didn’t want to be tied to the land and ledgers. He wanted to move around, explore, experience life, and seek adventure. As a young adult his love of the outdoors and adventure leads Cain into his livelihood. He takes up tracking slaves because it allows him freedom and he finds he has aptitude for it. Eventually he leaves home, goes off to war and is disowned. This brings us to where we are now …

Cain isn’t working alone as he’d choose to do. He’s tracking with 3 other men. Two men from the plantation and one hired solely to keep any eye on Cain. Unlike Preacher, traveling in this party, and many others in his profession Cain isn’t your usual soul catcher. Whereas some in his profession have been turned into sadists inflicting pain and harm at free will Cain isn’t one of those. Oh he’s done harm or killed, black and white alike, but only of necessity and not because his could. In Cain’s profession he saw a good deal of this…cruelty. A kind of sadism born out of wielding power over another living thing, to do cruelty simply because you could…[Soul Catcher Kindle section 928-39]

I’m about a quarter way through the book. I’m finding it very enjoyable and interesting reading. Every time I pick up a book about the civil war I find new details or details that have escaped my memory. In this case Fort Mose, the first free black settlement legally sanctioned in the U.S. Cain has tracked his runaway slaves to the fictionalized free black settlement of Timbucto. Such settlements offered sanctuary to blacks, both free and slave.

*** The weeks I’m hosting By the Chapter there will be no Pondering the pages posts.

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If you’re new to Mailbox Monday welcome! Thank you to everyone who stops by Mailbox Monday. Whether you comment or visit I appreciate your taking the time to drop in.

Here’s what I got last week:

Fiction ~ The Girl She Used To Be by David Cristofano

Fantasy/YA ~ Max by James Patterson. I’m a bit behind in this series but this gives me incentive to get caught up.

Memoir ~ Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven by Susan Jane Gilman

Historical/contemporary fiction ~ The Alexander Cipher by Will Adams

Fiction ~ De Marco Empire by J. Lou McCartney

Fiction ~ The Fortune Teller’s Daughter: A Novel by Lila Shaara. This is one of the my ‘Waiting on’ Wednesday selections.

Historical fiction ~ Stand the Storm by Breena Clarke

Non-fiction ~ Nine Lives: Death and Life in New Orleans by Dan Baum

Mystery/action/suspense ~ On the Grind: A Shane Scully Novel by Stephen J. Cannell. Check out Mr. Cannell’s ON THE GRIND sweepstakes, where readers can enter to win a Grand Prize consisting of a Garmin Nuvi 760 portable GPS and two autographed copies of ON THE GRIND. Details can be found at Contests. (Please note that the contest is only open to US residents).

********** You may, or may not, remember that Noontime Book Chat is moving here to The Printed Page in February. Well there have been a couple of changes to NBC. These changes were made with both participants and visitors in mind. Please visit the blog post here. I’m very excited about the format change as I believe it allow for additional co-hosting opportunities.

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What books came into your house last week? Don’t forget to leave a link to your Mailbox post or a list of books if you don’t have a blog.

Many of you have followed the Noontime Book Chats at J. Kaye’s Book Blog. Come February Noontime Book Chat is moving here to The Printed Page with a tweak or two. Most notably a name and format change.

Over at J. Kaye’s it was held in a chat format among the week’s co-hosts. This will be changing to more of a posting & commenting format. Host and co-host(s) read the featured book and post to their respective blogs, on their host day, a summary of where they are in the book and their thoughts and feelings about what they’ve read. Hosting bloggers are encouraged to post in the morning, or late the night before, so that visitors can stop by throughout day and follow the book’s progress. Visitors are encouraged to participate by commenting on the hosting blogs. Due to professional and personal commitments and time zone issues it’s not always possible for participants to be at their computers at noon so after chatting with my fellow co-hosts we decided to implement this change.

Which in turn brought up the idea of a name change. As not to mislead visitors about a chat, which wouldn’t be taking place, we decided a name change would be appropriate. So Noontime Book Chat has been christened By the Chapter. 

Please join Dar at Peeking between the Pages and myself the week of February 9th as we host our first By the Chapter. The featured book is Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay.

Links to By the Chapter pages: By the Chapter Reading Schedule By the Chapter Participant Guidelines By the Chapter Book Lists

Ready to co-host a week of By the Chapter? If yes! Please contact me.

Today’s ponderings:

I finished The Life Plan last night. I left off yesterday with Kat wanting to return to the States with Dan and continue living the life they’d mapped out together. Dan, well he has other ideas, which gets Kat thinking that there just might be something to this philosophy. Kat decides to live life as Dan is doing and spread the love. Jean Paul – well it turns out that he does want something from Kat but it’s not what you’re thinking nor is it underhanded and devious. Susan, Kat’s best friend and cynical divorce attorney, ends up with life that Kat’s always dreamed of. It turns out that Kat’s mom and Nigel are doing just fine thank you very much. And Kat, let’s just say, she’s getting on with her life. She leaves Thailand with it’s wild jungle sex and alcohol filled nights behind returning to Washington D.C. And her life plan, those hopes and dreams for Dan and herself? Well you’ll need to read the book yourself and find out.

I enjoyed this book and will bet that readers of chick lit, light romance, and women’s fiction will also enjoy it. I’d say it’s the perfect beach vacation book.

Title: Life Plan Author: Sybil Baker Publication date: March ’09 Publisher: Casperian Books Pages: 192 Genre: Chick lit, romance, women’s fiction Challenges: ARC/’09 Pub/New author/eBook   ***

After finishing The Life Plan last night I dove right into Soul Catcher by Michael White. So far I’m enjoying it but then I only got through Chapter 1. Cain, the soul catcher, appears to be a conflicted and complex man. While I haven’t gotten much into his background the little I have read leads me to believe there’s more here than meets the eye. If things keep as they are I expect this will be very good book. Stay tuned as I’m hoping work will be quiet today and I can get some serious reading time.

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