Tag Archives: fiction

My Campfire Reading List

May 8, 2013 By in summer reading list Tags: , , , , , , , , 24 Comments

The summer I graduated from high school I went on a road trip with my sister to New York city in search of the perfect apartment before she attended Fordham University in the fall to complete her master and PhD.   We drove down from New Brunswick in a little white Mr. Bean car with no air conditioning in the sweltering heat that you had to park on the hill in order to get it to start, again.

It was an exciting time and an eye-opening experience for this little country bumpkin who had never taken a subway before or seen a skyscraper. The only advice I followed  on that trip from my wise teenage friends was not to look-up when walking  ”because you don’t want to look like a tourist.”

It was on that trip I learned to navigate the subway system, devoured pizza in little Italy, and attempted to drop a penny off the Empire State building. It was an exciting time for this young seventeen year old who got to look-up to her older sister.

My sister is now the Director of The Great Books Programme at St. Thomas University inspiring young minds to think harder and strive to be better in all aspects of their lives. I have great admiration for her and  am honored to not only have a fabulous sister but a best friend until the very end.

campfire

As I  began to gear up for a great camping  season I realized I would be spending a lot of time in the wilderness  with many beautiful evenings curled up by the campfire.   It was the perfect opportunity to read many books in the silence of nature.

As I hummed and hawed at the book store over what to get I thought the simplest thing to do is make my sister compile a list for me. She has a good eye for Great Books!

“Can you give me a list of ten books to read this summer?”

“Any books?

“Yes. Any book you want!”

It is this list which I will be reading over the summer months and sharing my thoughts with you on every second Friday.

Baseball Books
The Brothers K , David James Duncan
Calico Joe, John Grisham

Scary Thriller
The Snowman, Joe Nesbo

Fun meaningful
The leftovers, Tom Perotta
The Goon Squad, Jennifer Egan

Literature
All the King’s Men, Robert Penn Warren
Master and Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov
Kokoro,  Natsume Soeski
The Ministry of Special Cases, Nathan Englander
Phantastes,  George MacDonald

I hope you follow along my reading journey and find one that you might enjoy too!

What are you looking forward to reading this summer? Will it be by a campfire?

Trust Your Eyes

September 8, 2012 By in BHBC, Book Review, Mystery, thriller Tags: , , , , , , 14 Comments

Linwood Barclay’s, Trust Your Eyes, is the story of a man who must come to terms with the death of his father and negotiate through rocky waters with his schizophrenic brother.  The only thing Ray Killbride did not count on was his brother discovering an online murder walking through the streets of New York through  Whirl 360.

It is this story that unravels that leads us it into a world suspense as they attempt to put the pieces together and find out who was the victim in the window.  They begin to unravel the mystery unexpected territory and fall into hot water with the wrong people.

Thomas and Ray must work together to solve the mystery and learn to communicate with each other.  Ray learns the meaning of patience as he struggles with his brothers uniqueness and obsessions with travelling the through the screen of the computer imagining he is a CIA operative.

Trust Your Eyes makes you run through a maze of plot twists and turns leaves you in suspense with every turn of the page.  It the perfect fall thriller on one of  those cold nights when you want to curl up with a warm blanket, a good book, and a nice glass of scotch.

Do you have a good thriller or mystery novel that you are looking to curl up with this fall?

Join in on lively discussions and more at BlogHer Book Club!

This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns

July 26, 2012 By in BHBC, BlogHer Book Club, Book Review, fiction Tags: , , , , , , 8 Comments

Margaret Dilloway’s The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns  draws the reader into a story of love and friendship.  Gal  is  a lonely biology teacher on Kidney dialysis for over eight years which has slowly taken it’s toll on her spirit. It is her daily routine which involves the tender care and love of her roses which helps to lift the spirits of a tired soul.

The problem for Gal is as much as she works on perfecting her roses she fails to look at the people in her life and only judges them by face value. It is this critical judgement  which forces her to see the world only in black and white.

It is when her niece Riley comes to live with her that forces Gal to realizes  sometimes we need look beyond the façade and into the depths of people’s  hearts.

The moment Gal begins to open her heart she begins to open  the process of friendship and love. It is this friendship which will garner her the support she needs to live a more fulfilled  life that has the  lasting beauty and lingering fragrance of  her roses.

Do you observe the world in black and white? 

Drop by BlogHer Book Club and join in on lively discussions about”The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns.”

 “This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.”

Born Wicked: Do You Stand Out from the Crowd?

April 5, 2012 By in BHBC, BlogHer Book Club, Book Review, Born Wicked, fiction, Jessica Spotswood Tags: , , , , , , , 49 Comments

In Born Wicked, Jessica Spotswood, take us on a  journey to the puritanical past a  dark chapter in American history when women were taken away for witchcraft accused for  merely being different and outspoken.  Cate the oldest of three sisters is forced to hide the secrets of her family in order to survive the perils of being a witch in these dangerous times.

She views her and her sisters fate as a curse which could destroy the core of her family. It is in these times that women are to be seen not heard  powerless to the decisions of the brotherhood. It is at the whim of the brotherhood that can control a women’s fate under the name of God.

Born Wicked  reminds me that superstitions and religion can hold people captive with their beliefs  in defining what is good and evil.

I remember my Grandfather  being an extremely superstitious man and as a young child  I recall several arguments he had with my Mother about the devil controlling the left-hand.

At the end the battle he would always look at me defeated and say “The nuns would never allow this!”

My Mother would walk off in a huff and I was left with a red face wondering what was wrong with  my left hand.

At some point and time we have all considered to Born Wicked by being different, outspoken, or having the wrong last family name. It is at these times when I reflect on the past I thank my lucky stars that I live in a time that accepts me for who I am regardless of my left-hand and out-spoken opinions.

It is only in Kate’s time that she must hide her talents in order to protect herself and family from the brotherhood acting in the orders guised under the will of God.

Join the conversation on Born Wicked with BlogHer Book Club. It’s always lively and full of surprises!

Do you think you were Born Wicked? What character traits make you stand out from the crowd?

This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

The Weird Sisters: What is in a Name?

February 20, 2012 By in BHBC, BlogHer Book Club, Book Review, Eleanor Brown, fiction, The Weird Sisters Tags: , , , , , 46 Comments

Eleanor Brown weaves a tale that would make the bard proud in The Weird Sisters. It is a novel about the struggles of coming home, hiding secrets, facing disappointments, and finding a little piece of yourself which may have been lost from the treasured moments of childhood.

Rose, Bean, and Cordelia each have a name to live up too. “We wear our names heavily. And though we have tried to escape their influence, they have seeped into us, and we find ourselves living their patterns again and again.” It is the  patterns of their name which they try to break free of in order move forward in their life.  

As a child growing up I remember reading the meaning of each of my sisters names the oldest meaning Pure Maiden, the middle Little Princess, and by the time I came along I was named the Dark One.

I have always been in awe of my oldest sisters always graceful, elegant, and smart. They each followed their own life paths which have led them great successes.  I was always sauntering behind to catch-up…

As the dark one it is with this  I could relate more  to the youngest sibling Cordelia’s bohemian qualities the need to escape to travel and life the on the road. It was away to distinguish herself in her own right and stumble upon many more of her own quirky foibles.

One of the many things that I loved about this novel is sometimes it is okay to let our guard down and share our deepest secrets with the ones that already know us best.  The Weird Sisters capture the awkward family dynamics, the strength in sisterhood, and the ability to rediscover yourself. It is a truly worth while read which will have you laughing and crying through some of their many challenging moments.

Does your name have meaning? Have you ever questioned your parents judgement in your name? Also  check out more about The Weird Sisters at BlogHer Book Club and join in on the  lively discussions!

This was a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.


Sea Change

November 17, 2011 By in BlogHer Book Club, Jeremy Page, Sea Change Tags: , , 16 Comments

Jeremy Pages novel Sea Change is a harrowing masterpiece which captures one man battling his own private purgatory between heaven and hell.  Guy must come to terms with the loss of  his daughter and separation from his wife. He has found solace  on a 1920′s dutch barge known as the flood sailing the estuaries for five years.

He recreates a world of what could have been in a set of diaries. It his own magical world  where his family has moved forward as if  his daughter never passed to an unfortunate death.

The Sea Change captures the beauty of the moments, the quiet at sea, and the unpredictability of the ocean. It is this unpredictability of the oncoming storm that Guy must face in order to move forward and make peace with his own life.

The Flood has been magnificent, he thinks. He’s miles and miles from shore, there are no lights on the horizon, no sign that man has lived or is alive at any place; the sea and the sky are alone as having no touch of man upon them. His world is this boat. Nothing else.

It is this calling to the sea to tempt the floods fate that he must find his future. He must move forward from the what ifs to seek a new light.  His solitary time on his boat forces him to realize that he must struggle from the past and move forward as he fights the last of his demons on the Ocean.

How do you prepare to weather the storm?

Check out BlogHer Book Club and get to know more about author Jeremy Page.

I have compensated for this BlogHer Book Club review but all opinions expressed are my own.

Theodora: Empress, Actress, and Whore

November 3, 2011 By in BlogHer Book Club, Stella Duffy, Theodora Tags: , , 8 Comments

Stella Duffy introduces us to the world of Theodora: Empress, Actress, and Whore.  She takes us back into the world of 527 AD when the Byzantine Empire was no place for a lady. It is in this novel we watch the rise of young Theodora as she raises her status from whore to empress. 

At a very early age Theodora learns to seduce the stage, the wants of men, and  rises above the ranks.  She  has “had always been drawn to exactly that she was warned against.” It is through her adventurous risks that she learns to become a woman of strength.

It is in this novel you are introduced to a strong lead of female characters all striving to survive in a mans world on their own terms. All risk-takers unwilling to let go of their beliefs and enjoy the rise to a challenge thrown their way.

It is in this  seductive historical fiction which serves up the stage and more with the drama worthy for a king. Let Theodora charm you with her cunning-wit, irresistible appetite, and adventurous spirit. She is full of surprises – you never know you may even learn a trick from her trade!

Join the lively discussions at BlogHer Book Club!

Is there a strong female lead in a historical fiction novel that you love? Do you think history teaches us the only way to live is by our own rules?

This was a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

Grab Your Broom and Take A Discovery of Witches for a Spin

October 31, 2011 By in A Discovery of Witches, Deborah Harkness, fiction Tags: , , , , , 12 Comments

[Seaside Townee an avid traveler, reader, and boldly loves to go where no man has gone before asks "Have you read any good books lately?"]

Halloween has fallen upon us! This evening we will prepare for the onslaught of witches, goblins, and ghouls ringing at our doors. I for one will be stuffing my face with candy and enjoying the tradition of watching The Headless Horseman. One of my favorite movies of all time!

However, if you are in the mood for a fun Halloween read full of Vampires, Witches, and Daemons…May I suggest A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness.  It is a delightful book I picked-up this summer and could not put down!

It memorised me with its wicked spell! I howled, I bite a nail or two and had fallen in love with a mischievous Daemon by the end of the night!

Discovery of Witches is filled with rich history, a strong plot and characters that you will love to devour. It is a definite page turner that leaves you wanting more. Crack it open and let it place its magical spell on you!

Do you have a favorite Halloween read?

A Conversation with the Headless Horseman

October 25, 2011 By in Headless Horseman, Legend of Sleepy Hollow Tags: , , , , , , , 22 Comments

[Deborah Bryan of The Monster in Your Closet is always full of surprises! She serves up a daily doses of  inspiring thoughts and humor. Deb asks, "If you could have one minute with anyone living or ever having lived, who would that person be. What would you do with that one minute (assuming you opted to seize it)?" ]

As Halloween fast approaches  everyone wants the big story on ghosts, goblins, and unknown entities. I thought it would be the perfect time to take the plunge and brush-up on my interviewing skills.

It’s with luck that I made a pact with the underworld for one minute with the headless horseman. A dream come true! I wanted to get down to business and discover why he needed so many heads!

The underworld agreed to release him on the signed contract that I would supply them with candy from the living.

It was an easy enough deal – I just went to the local Wal-Mart and dropped a couple of bags of candy down the well. It was no sweat!

I followed the instructions from Death and waited in the opening of the hollow. I waited with such anticipation! I couldn’t believe my luck! I was going to meet a celebrity! And a celebrity ghost on top of that!

My handsome dark knight came out of the hollow through the fog striding on his horse. He was larger than life!  If only he had a head! He would have been quite dreamy…

As he rode up to me I  held back my breath and stepped out of his reach.

You can never be too careful with a hungry head hunter!

“Good Evening Sir!”

Heavy Grunts!

“What is that sir? I can’t hear you!”

Another heavy grunt!

“Sir I must say it is very difficult to speak without your head! Is that why you steal so many?”

He slams his fist against  the horse.

I  take the hint and back away slowly! ” Oh! I see sir!”

He gets off his horse, raising his sword,  ready to strike my head!

I duck! Jump out-of-the-way! And Scream! This is when I began to second guess my decision for a one minute conversation with the headless horseman. I think I may have even dropped my bottle of water on my pants!

I look-up and he  faded back into the fog.

I look at my hands and place them around my neck. “Phew! It’s still there!”

I guess that is the last time attempting to interview headless entities! Someone always wants a piece of something whether it be candy or body parts! Next time I make a deal with the dead I want to talk to Marilyn and get the whole story on the Kennedy affair. Now that would be a story!

If you had the chance to meet with a spirit who would it be?

The Frozen Scream

October 22, 2011 By in Blogging, creative writing, fiction, ghost story, Halloween, Horror Genre, short story Tags: , , , , , , , , 28 Comments

[Thoughts Appear is rationing for the Zombie apocalypse and I suspect she has a very large stockpile of Pop Tarts to sustain her through the madness. She also has a deep love for all things Halloween. She recommends to " write about Halloween: costumes, candy, scary stories."]


Mary was laying on the couch eating the last of the Halloween candy. It was getting late and it appeared no more goblins, witches, or ghouls would be knocking on her door. She finished reading her last blog post for the evening.

She had recently gained a new follower and couldn’t think of the words of disgust  to describe his last post. It almost made her mouth gag from the sadistic photos which appeared across her screen. It was the last thing she wanted to see or read before going to bed.

She thought when she clicked on The Devil Yearns for Your Soul. It would be the campy Halloween blogs she had grown to love. It was not! It was sheer horror!

As she walked up the stairs shaking off what she just saw thinking what if there was such thing as the devil.Would he be so cruel?  She felt  a cool breeze run up her spine and it was enough to confirm her answer.

She went into her room and  reached for her cashmere sweater.  She pulled it down over her tank top and realized it was going to be one of those cold sleepless nights.

The wind had picked up outside, as she peered outside her window she saw darkness and a shadow which seemed to be lingering from the lamp-post. It was her mind once again playing tricks on her. It was after all Halloween and the images she just saw were still extremely hard to shake from her mind.

She wandered back downstairs to shut off the lights and ensure the doors were locked. She sighed, You never know who could be roaming in the neighborhood on a night like tonight.

Mary slowly walked back up the stairs and stubbing her toe! She let out a loud curse! And hobbled into bed. It was at this point all she wanted sleep as she pulled the warm duvet  over her head.

It was several hours later a loud knock on the door slowly wrestled her out of her deep sleep.  She slowly opened her eyes, looked at the clock ,it was midnight, she let out a muffled curse, and attempted to roll out of bed.

As she tried to sit up she felt a tingling sensation and realized she could not move. Her whole body had retaliated against her and it was a dead weight.  She was pinned to the bed by her own body. She tried to scream for help but all she could do was moan. She was in the depths of a heavy sleep paralysis and she was helpless until it wore off.

She kept looking around the room as the knocks got louder and louder. Was someone in the house?  She began to coax her thoughts, Stay Calm! Stay  calm! Just stay calm and it will wear off!

She maintained calm for a second until her eyes were fixated on what was clutching her arms and standing above her. In the  blackness of the night all she could see was red eyes peering at her, chanting in tongues, and it’s touch burning her to the bone.

Mary attempted to move but all she could do is wither and open her mouth with a frozen scream as her soul was consumed by the darkness.  The devil crackled a laugh and whispered, “The Devil Yearns for Your Soul.”

Will he be coming for you next?  Do you have a favorite horror  or ghost story?

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