The Printed Page

Title: Small Kingdoms Author/website(s): Anastaisa Hobbet 344 pages Publisher: Permanent Press Publication date: January ’10 Genre: Fiction Would I recommend this book: DNF @ pg. 128 Would I read more from this author: Most likely no Journal notes: Unfortunately for Small Kingdoms I started reading it right after finishing a book I truly enjoyed. It might have suffered some for that reason but that isn’t entirely why I put it down without reading further than page 128. I initially requested Small Kingdoms for the cultural aspects of the story line. I continue to find myself fascinated with the customs and beliefs of this part of the world. But I found myself growing less interested when going back to the story after having put the book down to attend to other parts of the my life. I didn’t find myself making a mental connection with any of the main characters. I know once the reviews start coming in for Small Kingdoms that I will definitely be in the minority.

Hobbet’s compelling novel is set in Kuwait between the Gulf Wars, with the country poised for the next wave of unexpected terror while coming to grips with the last: He’d expected to see some scars of the war. But there was nothing that spoke of the violence, not even a tank posed as a public memorial. Hobbet’s disparate protagonists come from different classes, countries and faiths: devoutly Muslim, wealthy Mufeeda; her young Indian cook, Emmanuella; California doctor Theo; Theo’s Arabic teacher, Hanaan (a Palestinian); and timid American housewife Kit (also Mufeeda’s neighbor). Each character is, to varying degrees, a misfit in a society beset by violence and ancient practices. When news of murdered maids begins circulating, several characters undertake a precarious plan to save a maid in danger, a dangerous mission with the potential to change all their lives permanently. Hobbet’s extensive knowledge of Kuwait’s people, customs and political landscape combine to make an immersive, authentic novel about Middle East life.

(Small Kingdoms was provided to me by the Librarything Early Reviewers program. I was not paid and this book is being passed along to the another book blogger through Read It Forward )

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.

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.

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The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker (Hachette)

FBI Special Agent Brad Raines is facing his toughest case yet. A Denver serial killer has killed four beautiful young women, leaving a bridal veil at each crime scene, and he’s picking up his pace. Unable to crack the case, Raines appeals for help from a most unusual source: residents of the Center for Wellbeing and Intelligence, a private psychiatric institution for mentally ill individuals whose are extraordinarily gifted.It’s there that he meets Paradise, a young woman who witnessed her father murder her family and barely escaped his hand. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, Paradise may also have an extrasensory gift: the ability to experience the final moments of a person’s life when she touches the dead body.In a desperate attempt to find the killer, Raines enlists Paradise’s help. In an effort to win her trust, he befriends this strange young woman and begins to see in her qualities that most ‘sane people’ sorely lack. Gradually, he starts to question whether sanity resides outside the hospital walls…or inside.As the Bride Collector increases the pace and volume of his gruesome crucifixions, the case becomes even more personal to Raines when his friend and colleague, a beautiful young forensic psychologist, becomes the Bride Collector’s next target. The FBI believes that the killer plans to murder seven women. Can Paradise help before it’s too late?

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What books came into your house last week? Don’t forget to fill out Mister Linky or leave a comment with a list of books if you don’t blog. If you’re interested in Read It Forward you will need to leave a comment in addition to filling out Mister Linky.

• In the “Your name:” box, please enter either your name or your blog’s name.

• In the “Your URL:” box please enter the URL/link that will lead directly to the post you are submitting (also called the permalink). This is not the URL to the blog’s home page.

Mailbox Monday Participants

1. Freda’s Voice 2. Elysium 3. Library of Clean Reads (Tiger Eyes) 4. Samantha (Bookworms and tea lovers) 5. Crazy-for-Books 6. Bluestocking 7. Karissa’s Reading Review 8. Toni @ A Circle of Books 9. Sharon (Books to the Ceiling) 10. Cathy@Kittling: Books 11. Elizabeth@Thoughts from an Evil Overlord 12. Stark Raving Bibliophile 13. Katy (A Few More Pages) 14. Kristi (Books and Needlepoint) 15. Zia@My Life In Not So Many Words 16. gautami tripathy 17. Bloody Bad 18. Mary (Bookfan) 19. Kristen (BookNAround) 20. Kathy (Bermudaonion’s Weblog) 21. Stephanie–Reviews by Lola 22. Kim (Metroreader) 23. Staci-Life in the Thumb 24. Diary of an Eccentric 25. Gina @ BookDragon’s Lair 26. Savvy Verse & Wit 27. Reading WIth Mo 28. Missy@MissysBookNook 29. Marie at The Burton Review 30. Alayne (The Crowded Leaf) 31. Cynthia 32. Caitlin (chaotic compendiums) 33. Wendy (Caribousmom) 34. Nicola (Back to Books) 35. Jo-Jo 36. Wordsmithonia 37. Laurel-Rain Snow 38. Carol (Carol’s Notebook) 39. Book Blab 40. Rose City Reader 41. Dana 42. MarthaE 43. Wrighty’s Reads 44. Robin 45. Anesthezea (I Heart Paperbacks) 46. Dawn – She is Too Fond of Books 47. Jo (Books to the Rescue) 48. Teddyree The Eclectic Reader 49. Bekah (Bekahs Bytes) 50. Heather @ 2manygoodbooks 51. Andrea (So Many Books, So Little Time) 52. MariReads 53. Shelly (Write For A Reader) 54. Elena Gwynne (All Booked Up) 55. Michelle (The True Book Addict) 56. Lori (Psychotic State) 57. Alice Teh 58. Lori (Psychotic State)

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Read It Forward details

Title: Carrion Comfort Author/website(s): Dan Simmons 767 pages Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin Publication date: November ’09 Genre: A mishmash as described in the synopsis Would I recommend this book: N/A Journal notes: An unsolicited book from a publicist, oh goodie. Not knowing what wonderful book was awaiting me I eagerly ripped open the packaging. The cover intrigued me as I wasn’t sure what type of story it might be hiding behind it. Then the author’s name caught my attention and I paused. Having read about half of The Terror before DNFing it (I lost interest) I wasn’t sure about Carrion Comfort though I wasn’t quite ready to toss it aside. A free book is a gift and why not give Mr. Simmons another try. Then I started reading the synopsis and the mental brakes started screeching. The more I read the more I could feel within my reading bones that Carrion Comfort was going to spend a very long time, maybe even forever, on my bookshelf. I’m a fan of horror and political thrillers but not science fiction and, most especially not vampires, even if they’re only mind vampires and not the blood sucking kind. Continuing to explore the Carrion Comfort story I could feel my comfort level heading straight for so not gonna happen. As much as I appreciate the publicist mailing me Carrion Comfort it will be going to a new home very soon.

Carrion Comfort draws on a variety of genres–horror, science fiction, political thriller, Hollywood roman a clef. It centers around a small number of “mind vampires” who can subjugate other people to their wills, read their minds, experience through their senses. The immensely powerful vampires use others, often bloodily, and often in frivolous “games” (hunting human prey, chess games with human pieces, and so on). Opposing them are Saul Laski, a psychologist and concentration-camp survivor, who is devoted to tracking down the Nazi vampire von Borchert; Natalie Preston, whose father inadvertently and fatally crossed the path of a pawn of the ancient, dotty vampire Melanie Fuller; Sheriff Bobby Joe Gentry, dragged in while investigating the multiple murders that marked the departure of Melanie Fuller from Charleston; and a host of other normals and vampires whose lives impinge on those of the principals.

(Carrion Comfort was provided to me by Katherine from St. Martin’s Press. I was not paid and this book has found a home with a fellow co-worker )

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Title: The Queen’s Dollmaker Author/website(s): Christine Trent 331 pages Publisher: Kensington Publication date: December ’09 Genre: Historical fiction Would I recommend this book: Definitely Would I read more from this author: Most definitely Journal notes: Ms. Trent is a new-to-me author and, I believe, The Queen’s Dollmaker is her debut novel. I’m pretty sure Ms. Trent can look forward to rewarding career writing historical fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed The Queen’s Dollmaker. Rare for me with debut authors but as soon as I finished TQD I wanted to pick up and start her next historical fiction book, The Wax Apprentice (** Christine contacted me to let me know that that title will be changing before publication). Alas that won’t be until 2011 but you can bet I’m eagerly anticipating it already. Ms. Trent will be landing on my auto-buy/fav authors list just as soon as I get it updated. I love it when authors create fictional characters and weave their stories around historical people and events in such way as to make the reader believe what they’re reading indeed could have taken place. Claudette has such interesting career especially in a day and age when women in the trades was frowned upon. Also I liked the fact that she wasn’t a player in court society.

On the brink of revolution, with a tide of hate turned against the decadent royal court, France is in turmoil – as is the life of one young woman forced to leave her beloved Paris. After a fire destroys her home and family, Claudette Laurent is struggling to survive in London. But one precious gift remains: her talent for creating exquisite dolls that Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France herself, cherishes. When the Queen requests a meeting, Claudette seizes the opportunity to promote her business, and to return home…Amid the violence and unrest, Claudette befriends the Queen, who bears no resemblance to the figurehead rapidly becoming the scapegoat of the Revolution. But when Claudette herself is lured into a web of deadly political intrigue, it becomes clear that friendship with France’s most despised woman has grim consequences. Now, overshadowed by the spectre of Madame Guillotine, the Queen’s dollmaker will face the ultimate test.

(The Queen’s Dollmaker was sent to me by the author Christine Trent. I was not paid and will be sending this book to another book blogger )

US Cover

Title: The Wild Zone Author: Joy Fielding (auto-buy author for me) Release date: February ’10

UK Cover

This is how it starts. With a joke.

Two brothers – Will and Jeff – and their friend Tom are out one night at their favorite South Beach bar when they decide to make a bet on who can be the first to seduce a mysterious-looking young woman drinking by herself. Pretty, dark-haired, blue-eyed Suzy has an innocent – almost ordinary – girl-next-door way about her. “Just waiting for Prince Charming to hit on her,” Jeff says.

But Suzy isn’t as naive as she seems. And she has an agenda of her own. Soon another challenge is born, only this one proves to be lethal.

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Jill at Breaking the Spine hosts Waiting on Wednesday. Stop by and check out the great books your fellow readers can’t wait to get their hands on. What book are you waiting for?

I’m a very visual person and love beautiful, or interesting, cover art. It entices, and invites, me to stop and take a peek instead of walking right on by. Here’s a cover that caught my eye. Title: The Last Concubine Author: Lesley Downer Release date: February ’09

1861. Growing up deep in the mountains of rural Japan, Sachi has always felt different, her pale skin and fine features setting her apart from her friends and family.

Then, when she is just eleven, an imperial princess passes through her village and sweeps her off to the women’s palace in the great city of Edo. Bristling with intrigue and erotic rivalries, the palace is home to three thousand women and only one man – the young shogun. Sachi is chosen as his concubine.

But Japan is changing. Black Ships have come from the West, bringing foreigners eager to add it to their colonial empires. As civil war erupts, Sachi flees for her life.

Rescued by a rebel warrior, she finds unknown feelings stirring within her. But this is a world in which private passions have no place and there is not even a word for ‘love’. Before she dare dream of a life with him, Sachi must unravel the mystery of her own origins – a mystery that encompasses a wrong so terrible that it threatens to destroy her.

Set in one of the most tumultuous eras in Japanese history, Sachi’s story is a potent mix of adventure and high romance. More than a love story, it also chronicles Japan’s extraordinary change from a medieval to a modern country in a matter of years. From the timeless beauty of the Women’s Palace in Edo to bloody battles fought outside its walls, The Last Concubine is an epic evocation of a country in revolution, and of a young woman’s quest to find out who she really is.

Title: The Life O’Reilly Author/website(s): Brian Cohen 266 pages Publisher: iUniverse.com Publication date: October ’09 Genre: Contemporary fiction Would I recommend this book: Yes & no Journal notes: This story was very, very predictable. There was not one element of surprise start to finish. I knew where the story was headed and exactly how we were going to get there. That said I’m sucker for emotionally charged story lines. I actually had to quit reading at work tonight because the ending was going to be a real tear jerker. I don’t think this will be book for everyone but if you don’t mind predictability wrapped around a tender love story then read The Life O’Reilly.

On the outside, Nick O’Reilly has it all: a high-flying legal career, as a partner of an elite Wall Street law firm, and financial security, with an apartment overlooking Central Park. Having grown up in a working-class family, as far back as Nick can remember this was his dream. But at the age of thirty-six, after several years of sacrificing his personal life for professional gain, Nick has started to ponder his future and consider the mark he wants to leave on society both professionally and personally—his legacy.

After being chastised in the press for turning a cold shoulder to the community, the firm calls upon Nick to help rehabilitate its image by handling its first pro bono case. Nick is asked to represent Dawn Nelson, a domestic violence victim who is fighting for custody of her young son, Jordan. A far cry from Nick’s specialty of defending the misdeeds of Corporate America, it is up to Nick to set Dawn and Jordan on a path to a better life. But Nick gets much more than he signed on for, as Dawn forces him to reassess his life choices and, ultimately, be true to himself. Only when Nick finally realizes what is truly important in life does he face his toughest—and possibly final—challenge: a battle for his own survival.

(The Life O’Reilly was provided to me by Jim from Kelley & Hall. I was not paid and will be sending this book to another book blogger )

Title: Children of Dust: A Memoir of Pakistan Author/website(s): Ali Eteraz / Children of Dust 337 pages Publisher: HarperOne; 1st edition Publication date: October ’09 Genre: Memoir Would I recommend this book: Undecided Journal notes: Its not that I didn’t enjoy Ali’s story I did, parts of it at least. I enjoyed the middle section (high school/early college years) and his time with Ziad the most. I found that after turning the last page it really didn’t leave me wanting more from this author. I doubt I’ll carry much of his story with me for very long.

Children of Dust is an elegant memoir revealing Islamic fundamentalism and madrassa life in rural Pakistan, the culture shock of moving to the U.S., and a journey of reconciliation to the modern Middle East. Author Ali Eteraz is a compelling young male literary voice, and in telling his coming-of-age story he captures not merely pain, but also the love, laughter, and pathos of Muslim life.

(Children of Dust was provided to me by Julie from FSB Media. I was not paid and will be sending this book to another book blogger )

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.

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.

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Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons

Carrion Comfort draws on a variety of genres–horror, science fiction, political thriller, Hollywood roman a clef. It centers around a small number of “mind vampires” who can subjugate other people to their wills, read their minds, experience through their senses. The immensely powerful vampires use others, often bloodily, and often in frivolous “games” (hunting human prey, chess games with human pieces, and so on). Opposing them are Saul Laski, a psychologist and concentration-camp survivor, who is devoted to tracking down the Nazi vampire von Borchert; Natalie Preston, whose father inadvertently and fatally crossed the path of a pawn of the ancient, dotty vampire Melanie Fuller; Sheriff Bobby Joe Gentry, dragged in while investigating the multiple murders that marked the departure of Melanie Fuller from Charleston; and a host of other normals and vampires whose lives impinge on those of the principals.

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What books came into your house last week? Don’t forget to fill out Mister Linky or leave a comment with a list of books if you don’t blog. If you’re interested in Read It Forward you will need to leave a comment in addition to filling out Mister Linky.

• In the “Your name:” box, please enter either your name or your blog’s name.

• In the “Your URL:” box please enter the URL/link that will lead directly to the post you are submitting (also called the permalink). This is not the URL to the blog’s home page.

Mailbox Monday Participants

1. Savvy Verse & Wit 2. Freda’s Voice 3. Elysium 4. Stephanie at Stark Raving Bibliophile 5. Karissa’s Reading Review 6. Sharon@A Bookworm’s Blog 7. Cathy@Kittling: Books 8. Library of Clean Reads (Tiger Eyes) 9. Bluestocking 10. Katy (A Few More Pages) 11. Zia@My Life In Not So Many Words 12. Kristi (Books and Needlepoint) 13. Wrighty’s Reads 14. Mary (Bookfan) 15. gautami tripathy 16. Kristen (BookNAround) 17. Kim (Metroreader) 18. Staci-Life in the Thumb 19. Kathy (Bermudaonion’s Weblog) 20. Stephanie–Reviews by Lola 21. Beth(bookaholicmom) 22. Sassy Brit (Alternative-Read.com & her Gang!) 23. Diary of an Eccentric 24. Blodeuedd (Bookgirl ofMur-y-Castell) 25. Nicola (Back to Books) 26. Kara (World According to Books) 27. Caitlin (chaotic compendiums) 28. Shelly (Write For A Reader) 29. Carol’s Notebook 30. Allison (Well-Read Reviews) 31. Cynthia 32. Wendy (Caribousmom) 33. Rose City Reader 34. Toni – A Circle of Books 35. Lori (Psychotic State) 36. Jo-Jo 37. Carrie K. (Books & Movies) 38. Kitty 39. Marce 40. Anesthezea (I Heart Paperbacks) 41. Vicki(Reading At The Beach) 42. Les in NE 43. Jo (Books to the Rescue) 44. Andrea (So Many Books, So Little Time) 45. Bekah 46. Robin 47. Avis (she reads and reads) 48. Suko’s Notebook 49. Gina @ BookDragon’s Lair 50. Michelle (The True Book Addict) 51. M. C. Mihjazi

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Read It Forward details