Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter BOOK REVIEW!

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Title: Beautiful Ruins

Author: Jess Walter

Published: Harper


I wasn't going to read this book, I loved the cover art so checked it out online and didn't think it sounded like my cup of tea. I then signed up for a contest which I won and the prize was the audio book of Beautiful Ruins so I figured hey since I won it and I had looked at it before I thought that I was meant to read this book. I am so glad I did since the story is one that I won't forget.

" The dying actress arrived in his village the only way one could come directly-in a boat that motored into the cove, lurched past the rock jetty, and bumped against the end of the pier."

The story begins in Italy in 1962 when an American actresses arrived at the tiny town of Porto Vergogna. She is sick and being an actress wanted to seek refuge in the tiny hotel to rest. This is where she meets the son of the owner named Pasquale Tursi.
Americans or anybody for that matter ever come to this tiny hotel because there isn't really anything in the town but fishermen. The only guest they get is an American "author" who comes to the hotel every year to bask in the quite and work on his novel/drink.
Pasquale becomes fascinated with the actress and begins spending much time with her. After some talking and spending much time with each other Pasquale begins to learn the horrors of Hollywood complete with scandals and cover ups.



Rating:

Thoughts: I wasn't going to read this book, I loved the cover art so checked it out online and didn't think it sounded like my cup of tea. I then signed up for a contest which I won and the prize was the audio book of Beautiful Ruins so I figured hey since I won it and I had looked at it before I thought that I was meant to read this book. I am so glad I did since the story is one that I won't forget. This book follows many people and spans through many years which can become confusing at times. I especially loved the bond between the actress and Pasquale in the first chapter which made even the boring parts of the book bearable. I got to the last chapter and feared that there wouldn't be a wrap up but then I noticed through the jumbled last chapter that it was wrapping things up though it was a bit confusing for a minute until I figured out what was going on. All in all I enjoyed the out come of the book and I am glad that I gave it a chance, I am also glad that I had the audio book for it because of the Italian that was spoken in certain parts of the story ( I can't pronounce that mess). If you ever wondered about Hollywood READ THIS BOOK! It's sad that they really acted like this back in the day.


Quotes:
"Life, he thought, is a blatant act of imagination."

"Every love is the same love, and it is overpowering."

"Some memories remain close; You can shut your es and find yourself back in them."


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World Book Night 2013!

It's that time of year again for World Book Night. I signed up for it two months ago and I was selected as a book giver this year. I went and picked up my box of books from our local community college and they gave me my books with no problem and they even threw in a little gift bag that included two bottles of water which husband and I drank as soon as we got to the car. Last year we had pick up problems when we got them from a college out of town they treated me like I was criminal.
Anyways I was selected to hand out copies of The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and I believe that I will hand out a few copies when we go to the laundry mat tonight to do clothes. I saw a lot of people reading books while they were there last time so those I would think would be interested in having a copy maybe. I remember last year people were staring at us with our stack of books then when we asked if they wanted one they shook their heads and ran away like we were handing out the plague. Which is sad because if anyone said would you like to have a free book and hold the book out to me I would jump all over that. People these days don't like to read and that is sad more people should read books! One example of this is that I am getting tired of having to tell people that True Blood is based off the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris because I have a True Blood post that is signed by Charlaine Harris and people get confused by it all the time. SO ANNOYING! I just want to yell that if they would open a book once in a while then they will quickly see that most popular TV shows and movies are based off books. END OF RANT! Below are some pictures of my World Book Night package.

If you are interested in doing this next year then check out their website at www.worldbooknight.org  and find out how you can get signed up to hand out books to people on World Book Night!














 

A Book to Review and My Lost Bookmark

Today didn't seem like anything exciting would happen but I was so wrong. I have been freaking out for a week because my favorite book mark was lost. I don't like going into a new journey of a new book without my favorite book mark. I all but given up on finding it thinking that I may have been careless enough to leave it in a library book that was taken back to the library. Tonight though I figured I would clean out my night stand by the bed because lets face it I'm a night stand slob and when I went to movie a Pokemon book that I got I noticed that hidden in the middle was my book mark. I smiled holding up my book mark and just stood there with it in my hand as the hallelujah chorus rang out inside my head.

I should have known that this would be my week since yesterday when I got a mystery package delivered to me that I had no idea was coming. When I got the package in my hand I noticed that not only did it have my name on it but it also had my blog name on it as well. I flipped a biscuit in the car when I tore open the package and realized that Random House publishing sent me I Kiss Your Hands Many Times by Marianne Szegedy - Maszak to read and review. I was so excited that I have dropped everything I was doing and started the book. I can tell you now that if the book continues with the way that it's going now then I feel and awesome review coming on!

Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt BOOK REVIEW!!!

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Title: Going Vintage

Author: Lindsey Leavitt

Published: Bloomsbury



The book starts off with a girl named Mallory cleaning out her Grandmother's home since her Grandmother is moving. As Mallory goes through a box of old notebooks ( I understand the value of a good notebook!) she finds one which contains old lists. Now there is something you should know about Mallory, she is a list maker and who do you think she got it from? Anyways back on the subject she finds this one list that sticks out to her and it's a list of things to do before finishing high school and it was written in the 1960's by her Grandmother.
Fast forward a little bit to the night Mallory is hanging out with her boyfriend (this takes place before the finding of the list which has me wondering why the book even started with the finding of the list) they are just hanging out and making out while Mallory's boyfriend talks her into doing a paper for him. Mallory say yes then asks for food in return, while her boy friend is getting food Mallory moves over to his computer to write the paper. Before she even starts on the paper she notices some things on her boyfriend's computer which leads her to believe that he isn't being faithful. Mallory leaves little hints that she knows then grabs her things and leaves the house.Rumors on the story's version of Facebook called Friendspace begin and the truth gets twisted.
Go back to the part were Mallory finds the list. Mallory is holding that list as everything plays over in her head. Then she thinks about her Grandmother when she was in high school and with the things on the list things "oh how simple things must have been back then, I wish they were like that now." And so starts Mallory's quest of Going Vintage and her side quest at finding a steady. Mallory makes the vow to complete everything on the list while channeling the 1960's complete with no use of anything that wasn't use in the 60's. NO CELL PHONE!!!!!



Rating:

Thoughts:I will start off by saying that I love the cover of this book and even though people say to not pick a book by it's cover let's face it we all do at some point and this is one of mine. This book was a bit boring and dragged a bit in the middle also some characters were a little lacking while others were fine. Though this book was not for me it might be good for you this is just my own opinion.


                                                     

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Saint Patrick's Day! A History!

Also known as the Feast of Saint Patrick is a cultural and religious holiday. The day is named after Saint Patrick who is the most commonly recognized of the patron Saints of Ireland. St. Patick's Day was made an official Christian Feast day in the early seventeenth century and is observed by several different churches especially the Church of Ireland.
The Day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. The day is also to celebrate the heritage and culture of the Irish.
There isn't much we know about St. Patrick's early life but what we do know is that he was born in Roman Britain in the fourth century. His Family was a very wealthy Romano-British family. St. Patrick's father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest in the Christian Church.
When St. Patrick was Sixteen he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and was taken captive to Ireland as a slave. St.Patrick later fled from captivity to the coast, where he boarded a ship and returned to Britain. As soon as he returned he joined the Church in Auxerre in Gaul and studied to be a priest.
St. Patrick himself said that in 432 he was called back to Ireland as a bishop to Christianize the Irish from Polytheism. After nearly thirty years of Evangelism St. Patrick died on March 17,461.

THINGS YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!!!

1. The original color to be associated with St.Patrick was blue but over the years the color green and it's association with the day grew.

2. The shamrock was used by St. Patrick to explain the Holy Trinity to the Irish.

3.St. Patrick's Day wasn't placed on the calender until 1600's by the Catholic Church.

4.St. Patrick's Day didn't become an official public holiday in Ireland until 1903.

5.The first St. Patrick's Day festival was held in 1996 and in 1997 the festival became a three day event.

6. In the 1798 rebellion, to make a political statement, Irish soldiers wore full green uniforms on March 17th in hopes of catching public attention.





   River Dancing!

Look Alike Book Covers! PART 2

I just go nuts when I see a picture used more than once on books or else where. I swear I continue to see this one picture of a hooded guy on books covers...this guy has got to be on at least 30 book covers. Down below are some more look alike covers that I have found and a special surprise!

Come on I know this braid!

Come on guys I know a lot of beautiful horses to take pictures of!

The drips are different but the idea is the same.

What the heck people!

Putting it out of focus doesn't make it different!
















Ok and now the HUGE surprise you all have been waiting for!

So I was reading a magazine today and I ran across the Easy cover I mean an advertisement for Splat hair color!

Little Book of Hindu Deities by Sanjay Patel BOOK REVIEW!

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Title: The Little Book Of Hindu Deities

Author: Sangay Patel

Published: Plume



During my Pagan studies I was given the task of studying the Gods and Goddesses of the world. I jumped right into this task by going to library and bringing home an arm full of books most of which you will not hear about but I already had this one on my shelf. I started to read this one right away and I knew that I was going to love it from the moment I set eyes on it a year ago in the book store.
The book is meant for children so it's easy to read and VERY easy to learn from it also has very cute pictures in it which drew me to the book in the first place. The pictures are so darn cute that I wish I had a poster of them so I could put them up on my walls.
The books starts it's lesson with the God Ganesha and with each new page is a different God or Goddess. The book even tells you about the Animal Gods and tells you why they are worshiped. Haven't you ever wondered why Indian people never eat beef? Well this book will tell you why and it also talks about the planets. I will say that if you are looking for a quick read that will teach you something new then FIND THIS BOOK!



Rating:

Some of the cute pictures inside!

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