tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63453410591850627382024-03-17T00:50:52.526-05:00NYC Book GirlAmandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.comBlogger602125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-77702271351757570182011-05-29T20:27:00.000-05:002011-05-29T20:27:01.562-05:00Reminder: I've moved!!!Just a reminder that I've moved blogs. You can check out my ramblings over at:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://libraryofmyown.blogspot.com/">A Library of My Own</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Have a wonderful day!</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><br />
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-59306290296558209662010-09-15T16:42:00.000-05:002010-09-15T16:42:54.649-05:00Kapitoil - Teddy Wayne Author Interview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WwUYrdzCU58I_KZgiR_ZI2QlrmhJzaS9B6l2Dj02GLx7zwof8xLMkARTzt2ss7PQzl2qyGPBOk-7u2JU_1Ep9QwPtnrdJ8C0mP8c0FegR4C_LFSt1YG7s6qTBC4ZLmUaHR3_x0tFQ5ko/s1600/kapitoil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WwUYrdzCU58I_KZgiR_ZI2QlrmhJzaS9B6l2Dj02GLx7zwof8xLMkARTzt2ss7PQzl2qyGPBOk-7u2JU_1Ep9QwPtnrdJ8C0mP8c0FegR4C_LFSt1YG7s6qTBC4ZLmUaHR3_x0tFQ5ko/s320/kapitoil.jpg" width="211" /></a></div> Check out my new blog, <a href="http://libraryofmyown.blogspot.com/2010/09/kapitoil-teddy-wayne-author-interview.html">A Library of My Own</a>, for an interview with Teddy Wayne, author of <i>Kapitoil</i> (check out <a href="http://libraryofmyown.blogspot.com/2010/09/kapitoil-teddy-wayne.html">my review</a>).<br />
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Here's a little bit about the author:<br />
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<a href="http://teddywayne.com/">Teddy Wayne</a> is a graduate of Harvard and the Writing Program at Washington University in St. Louis, where he also taught fiction and creative nonfiction writing. The recipient of a 2010 NEA Creative Writing Fellowship, his fiction, satire, and nonfiction have appeared in <em>The New Yorker, The</em> <em>New York Times, Time, Vanity Fair, Esquire, McSweeney’s,</em> <em>The</em> <em>Los Angeles Times, </em>and elsewhere. He lives in New York.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-15667975378589832632010-09-13T17:08:00.000-05:002010-09-13T17:08:21.552-05:00Kapitoil - Teddy Wayne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuz1xoJ2ea4l_00KlhTyxG4_kD_CydZZkCSADFbdbZRmtAdOmDG9zqVy02W31Ny47NY9NW07eQ03Bjz8jQwb0jjyYlx01yKiyygDhZOEWqFXcCtD6ZrWfMw4QwvX1Gn-NNioa2D0XhUh4X/s1600/kapitoil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuz1xoJ2ea4l_00KlhTyxG4_kD_CydZZkCSADFbdbZRmtAdOmDG9zqVy02W31Ny47NY9NW07eQ03Bjz8jQwb0jjyYlx01yKiyygDhZOEWqFXcCtD6ZrWfMw4QwvX1Gn-NNioa2D0XhUh4X/s320/kapitoil.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Check out my new blog <a href="http://libraryofmyown.blogspot.com/2010/09/kapitoil-teddy-wayne.html">A Library of My Own</a> for my review of Teddy Wayne's novel <a href="http://libraryofmyown.blogspot.com/2010/09/kapitoil-teddy-wayne.html">Kapitoil</a>. It's become one of my favorite books this year. Tomorrow I will also be posting an author interview with him so stick around!<br />
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<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-78880311770856659382010-09-12T16:15:00.000-05:002010-09-12T16:15:27.278-05:00A Small Death in the Great Glen - A.D. Scott<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VvPZ9KtkfLQoGnVg3P0kjuFC-J8aGB_-xK8xSQSFyUZEiHpODDfIfXO1DBjTX-FVJx4gGasbzLgsVtop3Ole8u6tWuPfGnwth43386LHiCTQ7PHw7EAHIMtp3OXs6dbEQNrVnWx_OLEC/s1600/smalldeath.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VvPZ9KtkfLQoGnVg3P0kjuFC-J8aGB_-xK8xSQSFyUZEiHpODDfIfXO1DBjTX-FVJx4gGasbzLgsVtop3Ole8u6tWuPfGnwth43386LHiCTQ7PHw7EAHIMtp3OXs6dbEQNrVnWx_OLEC/s400/smalldeath.png" width="268" /></a></div><br />
Check out my new blog <a href="http://libraryofmyown.blogspot.com/2010/09/small-death-in-great-glen-ad-scott.html">A Library of My Own</a> for my review of <a href="http://libraryofmyown.blogspot.com/2010/09/small-death-in-great-glen-ad-scott.html">A Small Death in the Great Glen</a> by A.D. Scott. <br />
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Please follow me and/or subscribe via Reader to my new blog. Thank you!<br />
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<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-83367316597288746352010-09-10T16:21:00.000-05:002010-09-10T16:21:06.456-05:00Sunflowers - Sheramy Bundrick<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnOF59qfCcOrzMlveT6PJlIJEJ0sERbTm1mnCMTPlaP3l1npTMxZpPbA9-NjVjAVXN8tzp_0kiB3PuXh7jfUbDnkaxwd5zOcs0hcgmrekSTWs-djsHinu5yFxuCAgktb3pfh5l_J0HwQS/s1600/sunflowersfinalcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnOF59qfCcOrzMlveT6PJlIJEJ0sERbTm1mnCMTPlaP3l1npTMxZpPbA9-NjVjAVXN8tzp_0kiB3PuXh7jfUbDnkaxwd5zOcs0hcgmrekSTWs-djsHinu5yFxuCAgktb3pfh5l_J0HwQS/s320/sunflowersfinalcover.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Check out my new blog <a href="http://libraryofmyown.blogspot.com/2010/09/sunflowers-sheramy-bundrick.html">A Library of My Own</a> to read my review and recommendation of Sheramy Bundrick's novel <a href="http://www.sheramybundrick.com/">Sunflowers: A Novel of Vincent van Gogh</a><br />
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<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-56863097126853511302010-08-28T14:53:00.003-05:002010-08-28T14:55:26.608-05:00Dracula in Love - Winner!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrD3naeP7PdxUsx8Cz4ooD1WRk3W_I5M0pb9Y9eDJlLYmfHMveDFawlkeG4KhgN5YjgiLH2n3ugaJDX1M2CrfyxtEB5uRzfOfe8vi042uHfkA0hLELu-brebr2Hd3Z2ss4HhZC4DUTlDI/s1600/Dracula+in+Love_Essex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrD3naeP7PdxUsx8Cz4ooD1WRk3W_I5M0pb9Y9eDJlLYmfHMveDFawlkeG4KhgN5YjgiLH2n3ugaJDX1M2CrfyxtEB5uRzfOfe8vi042uHfkA0hLELu-brebr2Hd3Z2ss4HhZC4DUTlDI/s320/Dracula+in+Love_Essex.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Sorry all for my delayed announcement of the winner of <a href="http://libraryofmyown.blogspot.com/2010/08/dracula-in-love-karen-essex-giveaway.html">Dracula in Love</a>. I absolutely loved your answers on what vampire stories you love and why you want to read this. My winner said:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Yes, me!! I love Bram Stoker's Dracula and just wrote a review on Dracula The Un-Dead, so I'd love to read another "perspective" of it! I've heard so much about this novel and am ready to take it on -- there's just something about the "real" Dracula story that just gets me going, and I was such a fan of The Historian as well, that this book would be right up my alley!!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Woohoo! I love when people refer me to books I have not yet read. So my winner is:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://coffeeandabookchick.blogspot.com/"><b>Coffee and a Book Chick</b></a> </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">Congratulations and I can't wait to see what you think. Enjoy!<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">****I am no longer a New Yorker and have moved over to my new blog <a href="http://libraryofmyown.blogspot.com/">A Library of My Own</a>. I will still be posting book reviews for a short time on this blog but if you want my full ramblings and photos, head on over! Thank you! </div></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-38831971254954470382010-08-04T14:34:00.000-05:002010-08-04T14:34:23.912-05:00Dracula in Love - Karen Essex (Giveaway!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgenoZ8Ng1nC7Wmxp-M4OY9pgI8kxpwuGoYt0ilYYjzZ_LqzeQQNCisQ1QHBTDHk3yklfaaThoWnGtmG2xyD6J1IDFnEMlMRcsnBU5aQlrfKdS_FzqTJI404Cifqw0fI6qV0gA2-pv5x61a/s1600/Dracula+in+Love_Essex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgenoZ8Ng1nC7Wmxp-M4OY9pgI8kxpwuGoYt0ilYYjzZ_LqzeQQNCisQ1QHBTDHk3yklfaaThoWnGtmG2xyD6J1IDFnEMlMRcsnBU5aQlrfKdS_FzqTJI404Cifqw0fI6qV0gA2-pv5x61a/s400/Dracula+in+Love_Essex.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>Book: Dracula in Love<br />
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Author: Karen Essex<br />
Paperback (ARC): 384 pages<br />
Publisher: Doubleday<br />
Published Date: August 10, 2010<br />
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I love Karen Essex. Let me just put that out there right now. I read <strong>Leonardo's Swans</strong> a while back (<a href="http://libraryofmyown.blogspot.com/2009/08/leonardo-swans-karen-essex.html">my review</a>) and fell in love with the story and her writing. She has this way of writing historical fiction that stays true to historical facts, something I love in an author. So when I heard she came out with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dracula-Love-Karen-Essex/dp/0385528914">Dracula in Love</a> I immediately requested an ARC copy and jumped for joy when I received it (my post on the gorgeous cover). I also have to tell you that I've read Bram Stoker's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dracula-Bram-Stoker/dp/145058666X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1280602396&sr=1-3">Dracula </a>quite a few times and also love that book. <br />
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Karen Essex's novel is from Mina's perspective as she tells the true story of her and the Count. It is a Victorian Gothic story of love, possession, betrayal, and of course some erotic scenes so yes, there is a bit of sex. But what I found fascinating is how Ms. Essex spun Mina's tale. The story starts off with Mina explaining how this was the true story and not Stoker's more popular fictional tale. Mr. Stoker even makes a cameo in the story which I thought was pretty cool.<br />
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While I adored the story and Ms. Essex's writing, I do have to warn you that it does have some a strong women's perspective from a very constrained Victorian society who deemed women as sort of a lesser class than men. For instance, once married most women did not control their property or money. It also shows an interesting spin on the asylum where Van Helsing is employed. **Side note: I had recently watched the Leonardo DiCaprio movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1130884/">Shutter Island</a> and found it's portrayal of the asylum very much like the one in this book. Very interesting.<br />
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My only gripe with the book is towards the end. I thought her explanation for the Count and Mina's attraction to each other was kind of, well, out of the blue. But it didn't detract my enjoyment of this highly Gothic love story. I've noticed another Mina/Dracula book out there called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dracula-My-Love-Secret-Journals/dp/0061923036">Dracula, My Love</a> by Syrie James. I am really curious to see how the two compare. I will try hard and get my hand on a copy of that novel.<br />
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Now on to the giveaway!! <br />
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I asked Maxwell Brown at <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/">Random House</a> if I could PLEASE have a copy to giveaway and he sent one to me ASAP! Woohoo! So I have a special ARC available to one lucky reader. Again my giveaway is open internationally. Here's the deal:<br />
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1) Please leave a comment with your email address (or blog address) telling me why you want to read this and if you are a fan of Stoker's version or any other vampire stories/movies/etc. Come on, talk to me! <br />
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2) I will give you an extra entry if you comment on my new blog <a href="http://libraryofmyown.blogspot.com/">A Library of My Own</a>. If you only comment on my new blog I'll give you two entries as well. <br />
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3) Contest is open until August 17th when I get back from my trip to Alaska. Good luck!<br />
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<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-85225654606138241062010-07-21T18:40:00.000-05:002010-07-21T18:40:07.078-05:00Kentucky StrollHead on over to my new blog <a href="http://libraryofmyown.blogspot.com/">A Library of My Own</a> to see photos of my <a href="http://libraryofmyown.blogspot.com/2010/07/kentucky-stroll.html">Kentucky Stroll</a>.<br />
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** I am no longer a New Yorker so please update your readers! I am still posting reviews at <b>Life and Times of a "New" New Yorker</b> but I am posting much more over at my new blog. Thanks!<br />
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<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-3598495561971130712010-07-15T02:22:00.004-05:002010-07-15T02:41:03.642-05:0031 Bond Street - Ellen Horan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpjTxFjx8gOZwj4uWLE-3nedFLco4ptsorZ5sVI8inOfoNLSNbUsdebULJopxB6COxtYtODDwncybj9Xmlr2bA3wUcdbBHcMUOubVeIWLnzOAhP-0OwB_6X89uX-5tYhvc4ATtLrJ8yQr/s1600/31bondstreet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpjTxFjx8gOZwj4uWLE-3nedFLco4ptsorZ5sVI8inOfoNLSNbUsdebULJopxB6COxtYtODDwncybj9Xmlr2bA3wUcdbBHcMUOubVeIWLnzOAhP-0OwB_6X89uX-5tYhvc4ATtLrJ8yQr/s400/31bondstreet.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>Book: 31 Bond Street<br />
Author: Ellen Horan<br />
Hardback: 368 Pages<br />
Publisher: Harpercollins<br />
Published Date: 3-30-2010<br />
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Awhile back I was asked to join the <a href="http://tlcbooktours.com/2010/05/ellen-horan-author-of-31-bond-street-on-tour-july-2010/">TLC Book Tour</a> for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/31-Bond-Street-Ellen-Horan/dp/0061773964">31 Bond Street</a> by Ellen Horan: A Novel of Murder, Innocence, and Power in New York City. I love historical fiction and I have a specific fondness for the 19th Century so I thought why not? I'm not sure if it's was because recently I've been <a href="http://www.netflix.com/">Netflixing</a> the series <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bones_(TV_series)">Bones</a> (forensic anthropology helps solve murders) or what, but I totally absorbed this book in just a couple of days. <br />
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Here's the story:<br />
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The setting is 1857 in New York City. A real crime happened: a dentist, Dr. Burdell, was found gruesomely murdered in his home. The main suspect is a young widowed lady, Emma Cunningham, with a couple of daughters who lives with him (as a tenant) and claims to be his wife. Suspicion is out whether or not they were married and if she murdered him. A brilliant defense attorney, Henry Clinton, puts his career at stake defending her of this crime.<br />
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I thought this story was absolutely fascinating. The story is told from various perspectives, mainly flipping from Henry Clinton's point of view as the trial proceeds, to Emma Cunnigham's view as she meets the Dr. Burdell and the events leading up to his death. Sometimes I can figure out in a crime book who the culprit is, but in this case I had absolutely no clue. Since this was a real life murder, I also refrained from looking it up on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Cunningham">Wikipedia</a> as I sometimes end up doing. I know Ellen Horan had to employ creative license while writing the fictional parts but I thought she did a fabulous job doing a "what if" to this real life crime story.<br />
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I just have to mention that I loved the book's setting in NewYork City. In her acknowledgements and explanations at the end of the book, she mentions that New York City was definitely a character in the book. I loved seeing the city from this historic perspective - before the high rises, before the Civil War and abolition of slavery, and before women's rights. Even the forensics I thought was interesting, like how they knew back then it had to be a left handed person. I especially thought it was bizarre when they mentioned the crime scene was painted, not photographed. This was before photography was used in a crime scene. I just thought she did a wonderful job bringing this era and old New York City to life. <br />
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I visited the website for <a href="http://31bondstreet.com/">31 Bond Street</a> and found this cool book trailer:<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/V-slaYza4sA&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/V-slaYza4sA&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHXBY5aYrIqeyKjssdU0L03JTUTv18ripmUXzhkVIOekYD_anI_vIqMPtvnweZ3dWX_HLG2_Vxiig2rodhaLpf5UnUBPZfYm2g1LctOodUtrIY9zRwvx-gjhwooVJncAtJVoe0H0JGQfL/s1600/EllenHoran_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHXBY5aYrIqeyKjssdU0L03JTUTv18ripmUXzhkVIOekYD_anI_vIqMPtvnweZ3dWX_HLG2_Vxiig2rodhaLpf5UnUBPZfYm2g1LctOodUtrIY9zRwvx-gjhwooVJncAtJVoe0H0JGQfL/s320/EllenHoran_.jpg" /></a></div>Ellen Horan previously worked as a freelance photo editor for magazines and books in New York City. She has a background in painting and visual art. 31 Bond Street is her first novel.<br />
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Connect with Ellen:<br />
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On her <a href="http://www.31bondstreet.com/">Website</a><br />
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On her <a href="http://www.facebook.com/people/Ellen-Horan/1198613210">Facebook</a><br />
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On <a href="http://twitter.com/horanel">Twitter</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Ellen Horan's TLC Book Tour Stops:</span><br />
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Tuesday, July 6th: <a href="http://wordlily.com/2010/07/05/31-bond-street-by-ellen-horan/">Word Lily</a><br />
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Wednesday, July 7th: <a href="http://www.rundpinne.com/2010/07/book-review-and-tour-31-bond-street-by-ellen-horan.html">Rundpinne</a><br />
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Thursday, July 8th: <a href="http://www.literaryfeline.com/2010/07/review-31-bond-street-by-ellen-horan.html">Musings of a Bookish Kitty</a><br />
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Monday, July 12th: <a href="http://simplystacie.net/book-review-31-bond-street/">Simply Stacie</a><br />
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Tuesday, July 13th: <a href="http://novelwhore.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/a-neighborhood-review-31-bond-street-by-ellen-horan/">Novel Whore</a><br />
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Wednesday, July 14th: <a href="http://askmissa.com/2010/07/15/31-bond-street-review/">Ask Miss A</a><br />
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Thursday, July 15th: <a href="http://lifeandtimesofanewnewyorker.blogspot.com/2010/07/31-bond-street-ellen-horan.html">Life and Times of a "New" New Yorker</a><br />
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Monday, July 19th: <a href="http://www.3rsblog.com/">The 3 R's Blog</a><br />
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Tuesday, July 20th: <a href="http://cafescrapper-scrapsoflife.blogspot.com/">Scraps of Life</a><br />
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Wednesday, July 21st: <a href="http://fewmorepages.blogspot.com/">A Few More Pages</a><br />
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Thursday, July 22nd: <a href="http://www.NovelWhore.com/">Novel Whore- Gabriella</a><br />
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Friday, July 23rd: <a href="http://www.startingfreshnyc.com/">Starting Fresh</a><br />
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Monday, July 26th: <a href="http://www.caribousmom.com/">Caribousmom</a><br />
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Tuesday, July 27th: <a href="http://thetometraveller.blogspot.com/">The Tome Traveller</a><br />
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Wednesday, July 28th: <a href="http://jo-jolovestoread.blogspot.com/">Jo-Jo Loves to Read!!!</a><br />
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Thursday, July 29th: <a href="http://bibliofreakblog.com/">Bibliofreak</a><br />
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Monday, August 2nd: <a href="http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com/">A Bookworm's World</a><br />
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Tuesday, August 3rd: <a href="http://jensbookthoughts.blogspot.com/">Jen's Book Thoughts</a><br />
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<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-79375963997731766112010-07-09T18:41:00.001-05:002010-07-09T18:42:18.331-05:00Update on BlogHello everyone!<br />
<br />
I am just popping in to tell you all to move on over to my new blog <a href="http://libraryofmyown.blogspot.com/">A Library of My Own</a>. I will still post book reviews here at <a href="http://lifeandtimesofanewnewyorker.blogspot.com/">Life and Times of a "New" New Yorker</a> through the end of August.* But if you want my entire blog in all it's glory, just head on over there:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">http://libraryofmyown.blogspot.com</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Oh, and as an incentive, I have a nice long photo post of my time in Paris years ago as part of Paris in July - hosted by <a href="http://bookbath.blogspot.com/2010/06/paris-in-july.html">Book Bath</a> and <a href="http://thyme-for-tea.blogspot.com/">Thyme for Tea</a>. <a href="http://libraryofmyown.blogspot.com/2010/07/paris-in-july.html">Go check it out!</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRxR7nwsN6zY42hmg6YFiLCwLy4fAMygzIhgcZvM0rmII_w9QW34MisO3Cx9kCD7JjL_AG0Soi2AnpMW7OH45KJVOzFjs7yZm0M1Zja6Lf_XxD9_gu6jFRXa99_2SoQuppAHK5-a6VAX8/s1600/Paris+In+July.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRxR7nwsN6zY42hmg6YFiLCwLy4fAMygzIhgcZvM0rmII_w9QW34MisO3Cx9kCD7JjL_AG0Soi2AnpMW7OH45KJVOzFjs7yZm0M1Zja6Lf_XxD9_gu6jFRXa99_2SoQuppAHK5-a6VAX8/s320/Paris+In+July.PNG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>* Publishers and Publicists: If you've sent me a book to read and review and want to make sure I post it at Life and Times of a "New" New Yorker, please let me know: libraryofmyown@gmail.com<br />
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<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-24469850809331854502010-07-08T13:59:00.000-05:002010-07-08T13:59:32.716-05:00The Queen of Palmyra Giveaway Winner!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNKdOng1WLnLYufvhAEMlHveCLG8C6LIj3RmzqZl1BCueYW86x3EnuG_z6hMRGkxVMJ1RB14rwZxyKjzqrPyl3Qn7SAere-7x5TpoG22Stnb1yJJPMjycdOgPjy1-Q55IKrg1IoK18Wwv/s1600/PalmyraBook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNKdOng1WLnLYufvhAEMlHveCLG8C6LIj3RmzqZl1BCueYW86x3EnuG_z6hMRGkxVMJ1RB14rwZxyKjzqrPyl3Qn7SAere-7x5TpoG22Stnb1yJJPMjycdOgPjy1-Q55IKrg1IoK18Wwv/s200/PalmyraBook.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><br />
Sorry for my delayed announcement of the winner of <a href="http://lifeandtimesofanewnewyorker.blogspot.com/2010/05/queen-of-palmyra-minrose-gwin-giveaway.html">The Queen of Palmyra</a>. I had asked everyone to name a book that had totally absorbed them. I received a number of new to me books, a few of Michelle Moran's books like<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cleopatras-Daughter-Novel-Michelle-Moran/dp/0307409120"> Cleopatra's Daughter</a>, and a couple of my favorites (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-Racing-Rain-Novel/dp/0061537969/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278615502&sr=1-1">The Art of Racing in the Rain</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pride-Prejudice-Jane-Austen/dp/1453605738/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278615523&sr=1-1">Pride and Prejudice</a>). A few of you, including the winner, mentioned <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Help-Kathryn-Stockett/dp/0399155341">The Help</a>.<br />
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And the winner....<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://archanaskorner.blogspot.com/">Archana!</a></div><br />
I've sent you an email so please email me your snail mail address so I can ship it out to you.<br />
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Thanks everyone for entering the contest!<br />
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<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-46927887951193966262010-07-08T13:37:00.001-05:002010-07-08T13:37:49.749-05:00How to Knit a Love Song - Rachael Herron<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGp1xkKwylApyRUz2JacjZvTHwMHbm2ZUfhs5wq3T6y-2Jxpcuzyhjx9mImfOwuCSVTjeR0YAj1pjuDIEpKWh9iCfxBKf-HKIUYtCD9awBKlWgC1q490icJovy6WYLQ4nXiNkoGhGpvcw/s1600/knitalovesong.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGp1xkKwylApyRUz2JacjZvTHwMHbm2ZUfhs5wq3T6y-2Jxpcuzyhjx9mImfOwuCSVTjeR0YAj1pjuDIEpKWh9iCfxBKf-HKIUYtCD9awBKlWgC1q490icJovy6WYLQ4nXiNkoGhGpvcw/s400/knitalovesong.png" width="266" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Book: How to Knit a Love Song</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Author: Rachael Herron</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Paperback: 320 pages</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Publisher: Avon A (April 1, 2010)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">A little while ago I read a knitting romance book by Rachael Herron called <a href="http://www.harpercollins.ca/books/How-Knit-Love-Song-Rachael-Herron/?isbn=9780061841293">How to Knit a Love Song</a>. I received the book from Harper Collins and thought it was such a cute book. I had no clue that there was a whole genre of knitting novels out there. I have to say it's something that I could get into since I recently took up knitting.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Here's the story:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Abigail is running away from her old life and towards a new beginning. Her mentor and friend, Eliza Carpenter (famous in the knitting circles) recently passed away and left Abigail a home on her California property. Abigail's dreams are put on hold though when she shows up and finds Eliza's angry but attractive nephew living there.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Eliza apparently left Abigail the cottage on the property while Cade, the nephew, gets the property and the main house. Cade is angry that the land he's made prosperous during his aunt's absence has been usurped by a city girl.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So yeah, this is a romance novel and normally I wouldn't be too big into it but I absolutely loved the knitting part. I also have to admit that while not insanely original, the story was pretty cute and not too romantically annoying. It also helped inspire me to knit more on my own. There's even a pattern for a sweater, which is what Abigail is working on, at the back of the book. I also loved that each chapter started with a pearl (or purl...sorry, had to do it) of wisdom from Eliza Carpenter. This is one of those books I sent on to my sister to read and enjoy.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Speaking of knitting and sisters, here's what I made after I read this book.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_0mMRdSEhSzxJ0MbYitNCa0wSxHCSN35Vl4hiwJeS6BtCcDYWLowT6iKIFw1knf0O6LfDlQ7UKG-uAyaGrfUMqVWw75e3-DJOqL7s41AZVFVylvkNtrcovyMXw0IwCOjAgdXX8uLaZM/s1600/IMG_5300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_0mMRdSEhSzxJ0MbYitNCa0wSxHCSN35Vl4hiwJeS6BtCcDYWLowT6iKIFw1knf0O6LfDlQ7UKG-uAyaGrfUMqVWw75e3-DJOqL7s41AZVFVylvkNtrcovyMXw0IwCOjAgdXX8uLaZM/s640/IMG_5300.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It was my first attempt at a cable stitch. I love this cool green color for a scarf. I used <a href="http://www.lionbrand.com/yarns/naturesChoice.html">Lion Brand's Nature's Choice Organic Cotton</a> because it is so soft. I hate itchy things around my neck:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7116VeJcCoQdJq2XZsdb21OYCDrU3GIDppsbc5DsTO-i4NyI1f39FYPS-UZ2JvWVG9uPQh9p-Cab4YoRPX8yZlPWSTO14-paijF4vP-mr0s2AVJRIRqbLAAl7wCSRi_ag2NdvubWh_g/s1600/IMG_5297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7116VeJcCoQdJq2XZsdb21OYCDrU3GIDppsbc5DsTO-i4NyI1f39FYPS-UZ2JvWVG9uPQh9p-Cab4YoRPX8yZlPWSTO14-paijF4vP-mr0s2AVJRIRqbLAAl7wCSRi_ag2NdvubWh_g/s640/IMG_5297.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> I call it the sister scarf. I made my sister the green one to match her hazel eyes and I am making myself a creamy white one. If you want the pattern, head over to Lion Brand and search for Harbor Scarf. You can also check out my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/libraryofmyown">Ravelry site</a> (username: libraryofmyown) :</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYT114uY2MqPjr2Ugd3SPMydBh0gW0icDNOpA3-BVI9ShvWXhoXeOCgyQt_5a34WqYM3qnpt7zNfsD1zELSZMYwHoJZcnKV_9ONiOUfz1sYRccVOioFAuOg9ccvzAPlTe3C5JnqeZnY4/s1600/IMG_5303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYT114uY2MqPjr2Ugd3SPMydBh0gW0icDNOpA3-BVI9ShvWXhoXeOCgyQt_5a34WqYM3qnpt7zNfsD1zELSZMYwHoJZcnKV_9ONiOUfz1sYRccVOioFAuOg9ccvzAPlTe3C5JnqeZnY4/s640/IMG_5303.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">For more info about Rachael Herron's book, you can check out her blog <a href="http://www.yarnagogo.com/">Yarn-A-Go-Go</a>.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.bookclubgirl.com/book_club_girl/how-to-knit-a-love-song/">Book Club Girl</a> also interviewed her so go over and check out their show.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Also reviewed by:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/2010/03/review-how-to-knit-love-song.html">Booking Mama</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://bermudaonion.wordpress.com/2010/03/23/review-how-to-knit-a-love-song/">Bermudaonion's Weblog</a></div><div><br />
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<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-5519160934568040472010-07-04T20:05:00.000-05:002010-07-04T20:05:23.297-05:00The Language of Trees - Ilie Ruby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtymaJ-Sh7PZObANXy09jVjj09R7s8EtQsrdmPp1ez52ZrdXCFnlN9PnN2_aeU_as8lRoQGIxtrYIZWC7yV0lwj2KNnoxytOEYFR8So5nMTKY-xy2tCkbkSe4cR5y4EM1iyoucBbH2p1E/s1600/the-language-of-trees-198x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtymaJ-Sh7PZObANXy09jVjj09R7s8EtQsrdmPp1ez52ZrdXCFnlN9PnN2_aeU_as8lRoQGIxtrYIZWC7yV0lwj2KNnoxytOEYFR8So5nMTKY-xy2tCkbkSe4cR5y4EM1iyoucBbH2p1E/s320/the-language-of-trees-198x300.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Book: The Language of Trees</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Author: Ilie Ruby</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Paperback: 368 pages</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Publisher: Avon A (July 20, 2010)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">A while back I saw Ilie Ruby's novel <a href="http://www.ilieruby.com/">The Language of Trees</a> on Shelf Awareness and requested an ARC to read and review. I think the main reason was because of it's gorgeous cover but also because it takes place in the Fingerlakes region of New York and involves Native American themes. I thought it was a beautiful novel with touches of a mystery and romance with a supernatural twist.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Here's the synopsis:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Grant Shongo is part Seneca and has returned to his home town by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canandaigua_Lake">Canandaigua Lake</a>. He's running away from a failed marriage and needs some time to repair his life. By chance, he runs into his high school sweetheart, Echo, who's also come home to check on her adopted father, Joseph, who's health is ailing. However, Joseph has other things on his mind. Local town legend, Melanie Ellis, a young mother, has gone missing.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Twelve years earlier, Melanie Ellis was just a young girl when she took her young brother and sister, Maya and Luke, on a midnight canoe trip, through the pouring rain to Squaw Island. No one knows what happened but after the storm subsided, Luke was gone. Now Luke's spirit is haunting certain members of Canandiagua and long buried secrets will have to be resurrected. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I hope that made some kind of sense as I usually like writing my own synopsis. For the most part, I liked this book. The way Ilie Ruby made the Fingerlakes area come alive was beautiful. For instance, this blurb by author unknown at the beginning of the book is a running theme to the whole story:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i>Trees are the most trusting of all living creatures because they trust enough to put their roots down in one place, knowing they'll be there for life.</i></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><br />
</i></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Ilie Ruby made all the characters multi-dimensional and I loved that not all problems were resolved at the end. The story wasn't just narrated by Grant and Echo, but by almost all of the characters involved in the story. It was a beautiful and sad story: bittersweet. While I enjoyed the supernatural touches, it wasn't overly supernatural to make it unbelievable. The only problem I had with it was sometimes it got a little over descriptive which can make me skim a bit too much. But that might just be my problem, not the author's. </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I noticed a review over at <a href="http://tlcbooktours.com/2010/04/ilie-ruby-author-of-the-language-of-trees-on-tour-julyaugust-2010/">TLC Book Tours</a> which states that it's a "healing tale of redemption" (Elizabet Rosner) which describes it exactly.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I was going to find photos of Canandaigua Lake on Google Images but found that Ilie Ruby has a section on her website of <a href="http://www.ilieruby.com/scenes.html">photos of the area</a>. So go over there and check it out.</div><br />
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<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-59806171706170524872010-06-29T15:56:00.000-05:002010-06-29T15:56:21.203-05:00Mailbox MondaysI thought I'd do a Mailbox Monday even though it's Tuesday. For more Mailbox Mondays, check out <a href="http://printedpage.us/2010/06/28/mailbox-monday-fans-its-your-turn/">The Printed Page's Tour Schedule</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLLMaWw0S6pWraudLYiYnkPdYe5LMaEw04MQXG-s9h514DeuHxTZAcd4WI3fFasCPty_N0NAUEJjf_n4mXn7F1j4cUNVNcacjYVV58rCTjUOi6-323J1940K7VT8iCSfcHNmib6dKrtZ0/s1600/fullmailbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLLMaWw0S6pWraudLYiYnkPdYe5LMaEw04MQXG-s9h514DeuHxTZAcd4WI3fFasCPty_N0NAUEJjf_n4mXn7F1j4cUNVNcacjYVV58rCTjUOi6-323J1940K7VT8iCSfcHNmib6dKrtZ0/s320/fullmailbox.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Normally <a href="http://www.harpercollins.com/">Harper Collins</a> gives me all the love but this week I've received two books by <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/">Random House</a>:<br />
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<a href="http://emmacampion.com/">The King's Mistress</a> by Emma Campion - Comes out in July, about the Mistress of King Edward III<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">and</div><br />
<a href="http://www.karenessex.com/draculasynop.html">Dracula in Love</a> by Karen Essex - Comes out in August, about Dracula's muse Mina. I've been dying to read this since one of my favorite books is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracula">Dracula</a> by Bram Stoker and I love Karen Essex (read my review of her previous novel <a href="http://lifeandtimesofanewnewyorker.blogspot.com/2009/08/leonardos-swans-karen-essex.html">Leonardo's Swans</a>). By the way, I'd love to own Mina's dress on the cover. How gorgeous is it?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WvMLFcZTJ7sskzpGvg23GNT3SPSgDVrX2a8338SHoNC0sotrEu9FlxIt3yo0tmMvLc-vh6QITAOWjb374_KY-sOW0w8_rrNHZcf08wAbCRReTt9Vkpo5XhPlP-zdy-ArLgIdrY32wIBN/s1600/IMG_5362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WvMLFcZTJ7sskzpGvg23GNT3SPSgDVrX2a8338SHoNC0sotrEu9FlxIt3yo0tmMvLc-vh6QITAOWjb374_KY-sOW0w8_rrNHZcf08wAbCRReTt9Vkpo5XhPlP-zdy-ArLgIdrY32wIBN/s640/IMG_5362.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-72729603912572591262010-06-22T12:20:00.002-05:002010-06-22T12:23:04.776-05:00The Lacemakers of Glenmara - Heather Barbieri<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGZzkMC3dyhu-YUhZ4e-kNxlxlVLKRAKJAyQF7S3mfRCILyWOLXEkdZJlEJoEyAuzo3wtwRJhXY0jVROhWoiIpF5hiQ6mGbmZA-HkArFOEsvdlsG3u6g4Q6JL8rRQ7BwnPoKnSwvexddQ/s1600/the-lace-makers-of-glenmara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGZzkMC3dyhu-YUhZ4e-kNxlxlVLKRAKJAyQF7S3mfRCILyWOLXEkdZJlEJoEyAuzo3wtwRJhXY0jVROhWoiIpF5hiQ6mGbmZA-HkArFOEsvdlsG3u6g4Q6JL8rRQ7BwnPoKnSwvexddQ/s400/the-lace-makers-of-glenmara.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>A while back I had read some reviews of Heather Barbieri's book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lace-Makers-Glenmara-Novel/dp/0061721557/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270274962&sr=8-1">The Lacemakers of Glenmara</a> and was dying to read it myself. So when I was asked to join the <a href="http://tlcbooktours.com/2010/04/heather-barbieri-author-of-the-lace-makers-of-glenmara-on-tour-junejuly-2010/">TLC Book tour</a> for this book I jumped at the chance. I'm currently on vacation to see family in Colorado and read half the book on the plane and the other half the next day. This is a perfect summer read.<br />
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The story:<br />
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Kate Robinson's mother always told her bad things happen in threes. So when her mother passes away, her boyfriend leaves her for a skinny model, and her new clothing line bombs, she just has to get away.<br />
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She decides to take a journey to her family's ancestral homeland of Ireland. She manages to wind up in the small untourist town of Glenmara by the sea. Some of the women there take Kate under their wing and she joins their lace making society and starts to learn the trade. Kate also has the wonderful idea creating beautiful lingerie with the lace patterns. And then there's Sullivan... But everything doesn't go as planned. Not all the townsfolk of Glenmara approve of Kate and many have deep secrets of their own. <br />
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I totally enjoyed this novel. It helped that it wasn't just narrated by Kate but also by various people of Glenmara. Each character had their own struggles, problems, and concerns but Kate's arrival changes each one of their lives. Also, since I'm a newbie knitter, I enjoyed reading about the lace making itself. I really wanted to see the patterns they were creating and love to know how to do it myself. And I"m just a sucker for anything Irish, so this book was the perfect vacation read.<br />
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As a side note, Heather Barbieri mentions a few books in her novel - favorite books of Kate's and others and I kept wanting to write them down so I could read them in the future. When I went to Heather's <a href="http://www.heatherbarbieri.com/favoritebooks.php">website</a>, I noticed she had a link to her favorite books. How cool is that?<br />
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For more reviews for Heather Barbieri's book, check out the TLC Book Tour:<br />
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Tuesday, June 22nd: <a href="http://lifeandtimesofanewnewyorker.blogspot.com/2010/06/lacemakers-of-glenmara-heather-barbieri.html">Life and Times of a "New" New Yorker</a><br />
Thursday, June 24th: <a href="http://booksandmovies.colvilleblogger.com/">Books and Movies</a><br />
Monday, June 28th: <a href="http://bookalicio.us/">Bookalicio.us</a><br />
Tuesday, June 29th: <a href="http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/">Drey's Library</a><br />
Wednesday, June 30th: <a href="http://thetometraveller.blogspot.com/">The Tome Traveler</a><br />
Friday, July 2nd: <a href="http://redladysreadingroom-redlady.blogspot.com/">Redlady's Reading Room</a><br />
Wednesday, July 7th: <a href="http://www.ragingbibliomania.net/">Raging Bibliomania</a><br />
Thursday, July 8th: <a href="http://savvyverseandwit.com/">Savvy Verse and Wit</a><br />
Monday, July 12th: <a href="http://www.blogginboutbooks.com/">Bloggin' 'Bout Books</a><br />
Tuesday, July 13th: <a href="http://www.chefdruck.com/">Chefdruck Musings</a><br />
Wednesday, July 14th: <a href="http://www.mytwoblessings.com/">My Two Blessings</a><br />
Thursday, July 15th: <a href="http://diaryofaneccentric.wordpress.com/">Diary of an Eccentric</a>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-53885984164491655452010-06-17T09:58:00.001-05:002010-06-17T10:01:22.800-05:001001 Update - The Thirty-Nine Steps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMXpXwmi2Hos1BTuhodzj3HQrn4PoYOc9ocLZktSV4xHq7gHkXMObucg9W5fKAgUv3nHvAoFy4TIu5i6WXa10msEXlwcOj0PgbKCUstrnxMvAOcNo8oq30CfLQEpMxxo2s_eKLR9wjts/s1600/39steps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMXpXwmi2Hos1BTuhodzj3HQrn4PoYOc9ocLZktSV4xHq7gHkXMObucg9W5fKAgUv3nHvAoFy4TIu5i6WXa10msEXlwcOj0PgbKCUstrnxMvAOcNo8oq30CfLQEpMxxo2s_eKLR9wjts/s400/39steps.jpg" width="271" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Earlier this year I decided to read John Buchan's classic novel <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thirty-Nine-Steps-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0192839314">The Thirty-Nine Steps</a>. Apart from it being on the <a href="http://libraryofmyown.blogspot.com/2008/05/1001-books-to-read-before-you-die.html">1001 Books to Read Before You Die</a> list, it is also a Broadway show that the hubby and I had wanted to see before we left NYC. I'd like to say we got the chance to see it, but we were a day late. They had closed down for a period as they were moving venues. Sigh.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But! PBS had a showing that weekend of a newer BBC version of the movie (more about the films below) so we still got our date night.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">But you want to know what the book's about, right? Here's how it starts out:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"I returned from the City about three o'clock on that May afternoon pretty well disgusted with life."</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Richard Hannay has just returned to London after being in Rhodesia. It's May 1914 and Europe is on the brink of WWI. However, Richard is bored:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"Here was I, thirty-seven years old, sound in wind and limb, with enough money to have a good time, yawning my head off all day."</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">After returning home one night, a man approaches him at his apartment door and basically invites himself in. This man, Schudder, lives upstairs, is an American from Kentucky, and has learned a bit too much of European politics.<i> </i> Schudder tells him:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>'Pardon,' he said, 'I'm a bit rattled tonight. You see, I happen at this moment to be dead.'</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">They sit down and Schudder tells him some things, secret things involving a German conspiracy to kill the Greek Premier. Schudder's life is in danger and he's had to fake his death to get away from the bad guys. He also has to stop the conspiracy. Richard Hannay, while not sure if this man is crazy or not, decides to help him. However, a few days later, Hannay returns to find Schudder dead in his apartment. Unable to call the police for fear of being accused of Schudder's death, Hannay takes Schudder's notebook, flees the scene, and must elude Schudder's murderers, stop the German conspiracy, and basically save the day. Oh, and you'll just have to read the book to figure out what the 39 steps refers to.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">I absolutely loved this little spy story. I read the book for free online over at <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/558/558-h/558-h.htm">Project Gutenberg</a>. This is the first of five novels about Hannay. They are short but chock full of adventure. Hannay also kind of cracks me up since he's so obviously not your normal hero. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">On to the movie: The new <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00gd1rq">BBC version</a> was very very good. I love that Rupert Penry-Jones was cast as Hannay:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0xXjnIFPDR1dXwV9vp_zGBmHgKZPp5_-DUfVfpDaCgM4hk5DWLqa84zUBlR2d3rGflMBn9AzSqyb0PYIcSXx6QzgfKdOY84ktbFJmSFOcY-D_-Fd3rE021SiVMmk1kQtGX6UTzfeR6c/s1600/Rupert_Penry_Jones_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0xXjnIFPDR1dXwV9vp_zGBmHgKZPp5_-DUfVfpDaCgM4hk5DWLqa84zUBlR2d3rGflMBn9AzSqyb0PYIcSXx6QzgfKdOY84ktbFJmSFOcY-D_-Fd3rE021SiVMmk1kQtGX6UTzfeR6c/s400/Rupert_Penry_Jones_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you've seen the newest version of Jane Austen's <i>Persuasion</i> (<a href="http://lifeandtimesofanewnewyorker.blogspot.com/2010/01/1001-update-persuasion-jane-austen.html">my review</a>), you'll recognize Rupert. I've got a slight crush on him because of that...and he's in the BBC <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spooks">MI-5</a> (also called Spooks) series which I also love. Side note: If you like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_McFadyen">Matthew Macfadyen</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keeley_Hawes">Keeley Hawes</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert_Penry-Jones">Rupert Penry-Jones</a>, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Armitage_(actor)">Richard Armitage</a> - check MI-5 out.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">The book and movie both have all those lovely little spy elements that I love. Apparently Alfred Hitchcock thought so too. He made a movie version of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_39_Steps_(1935_film)">The Thirty-Nine Steps</a> in 1935. I haven't watched his version yet. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-Ga1R0RdfPmBPtbj5cytr9WSxGybTN4DIvxjlGqbiYWdqh4RSZ-edvr0OlygXdinqN359Ggf_Sl27_OXITkJruuy-WGBBAZ0XD4j_FjRKu3HRS9bRdxwIc69QzPh4XlRQUNkwhZUIcI/s1600/poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-Ga1R0RdfPmBPtbj5cytr9WSxGybTN4DIvxjlGqbiYWdqh4RSZ-edvr0OlygXdinqN359Ggf_Sl27_OXITkJruuy-WGBBAZ0XD4j_FjRKu3HRS9bRdxwIc69QzPh4XlRQUNkwhZUIcI/s400/poster.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love how the modern BBC version reminded me of the old classic spy movies. Notice the lovely plane scene in the modern version:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCSnp1N_RarRmwrhe0MCLzhdMPkndev17Yhm5oyXIq8EMTxGgLTY3Ke7lDZh51gGB-hKolBqQSzgrmt95qX4GxfygSx3Wtak0WgJJU61CHKbcqZLvYk3_R9jMj5UYts7K4ABu-qz1HQU/s1600/Rupert2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCSnp1N_RarRmwrhe0MCLzhdMPkndev17Yhm5oyXIq8EMTxGgLTY3Ke7lDZh51gGB-hKolBqQSzgrmt95qX4GxfygSx3Wtak0WgJJU61CHKbcqZLvYk3_R9jMj5UYts7K4ABu-qz1HQU/s400/Rupert2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Doesn't this remind you of the 1959 movie <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_by_Northwest">North by Northwest</a> with Cary Grant...also a Hitchcock film?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDRzrp15P30jb6GM_43M8nk36QQ70Sm8Dex21aHe_BQtRSam3qLWSnhwEcvyIgYuQBg6NeZgCCviBtMKpY8FKLoTK6xtJqgIFnin7-7sXRxErBB35j0D5yfxo-faLJoQ15N5ggf7CnIY/s1600/north-by-northwest-hitchcock-cary-grant-pic-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDRzrp15P30jb6GM_43M8nk36QQ70Sm8Dex21aHe_BQtRSam3qLWSnhwEcvyIgYuQBg6NeZgCCviBtMKpY8FKLoTK6xtJqgIFnin7-7sXRxErBB35j0D5yfxo-faLJoQ15N5ggf7CnIY/s400/north-by-northwest-hitchcock-cary-grant-pic-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the things I love about blogging is that while writing posts, I find the most interesting posts on other blogs. Check these out:</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://lightscamerahistory.com/2009/03/12/the-39-steps-2008/">Lights, Camera, History</a> - Post on BBC film version (one of my favorite blogs on period films)</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://redtreetimes.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/at-the-movies-the-39-steps/">Redtree Times</a> - Post on Alfred Hitchcock version </span></div><br />
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<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-32376417614160062922010-06-15T20:22:00.000-05:002010-06-15T20:22:29.964-05:00Bloggy StuffSo I've been tinkering around with a new blog since, well let's face it, I am no longer a New Yorker. I need all your help. Will you check it out and give me any feedback?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://libraryofmyown.blogspot.com/">A Library of My Own</a></div><br />
I always love constructive criticism. I'm still working on it so take that into account. Also, if you have a blog of your own, do you have any tips or thoughts of what works well for your blog? If you are a reader of blogs, what do you like to see?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYG5bM1RQSy6wLMmvnQ4tNK8Unns6UW2bLaO0g-a0zEzqvUdMDW4TMcEkywhnW0bGoGJlqm4C1lr15hZ3xvWVylM96zrar695mHh_1zFPLD7oeKE4FkDuuyPy2p2FED8OM_hDZJmIPifGG/s1600/LibraryofOwn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYG5bM1RQSy6wLMmvnQ4tNK8Unns6UW2bLaO0g-a0zEzqvUdMDW4TMcEkywhnW0bGoGJlqm4C1lr15hZ3xvWVylM96zrar695mHh_1zFPLD7oeKE4FkDuuyPy2p2FED8OM_hDZJmIPifGG/s640/LibraryofOwn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-79382281761903069112010-06-05T12:27:00.002-05:002010-06-05T12:40:25.321-05:00Second Chance - Jane Green<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjpNojWda_h9gDpgoyvPbj94PtORaw_W5aLp6QmCkqdxLRTlZtwTQ1IRvHxz_PdZ_K3zTXhYHVctP-V8lHxQO7bcy17iJAsjDO20-QZjhhI7Oz2L_gJTAhIpehh9I8ckd9bBNrZ_rtP8k/s1600/second_chance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjpNojWda_h9gDpgoyvPbj94PtORaw_W5aLp6QmCkqdxLRTlZtwTQ1IRvHxz_PdZ_K3zTXhYHVctP-V8lHxQO7bcy17iJAsjDO20-QZjhhI7Oz2L_gJTAhIpehh9I8ckd9bBNrZ_rtP8k/s320/second_chance.jpg" /></a></div>I've had Jane Green's novel, <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Second-Chance/Jane-Green/e/9781429536820/?itm=20">Second Chance</a>, on my bookshelf for a while now and I thought now was the time to read it. I needed something girly to read. I won a <a href="http://lifeandtimesofanewnewyorker.blogspot.com/search?q=reading+group+choices">box of books</a> a while back from <a href="http://www.readinggroupchoices.com/">Reading Group Choices</a> and this was one of those books.<br />
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I've never read anything by Jane Green before and for some reason I thought her books would be a little too fluffy for me. I am so glad I picked Second Chances up. It was the perfect read for me right now.<br />
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The story:<br />
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Holly, Olivia, Paul, and Saffron are mourning the death of their close friend Tom. They were all close friends when they were school mates in London, but now they are in their late thirties and are all in various stages of life and relationships. Most of them haven't seen each other in years and had mainly kept in contact with each other through Tom. <br />
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Holly is fairly wealthy, has two adorable kids, and an unhealthy relationship with her distant lawyer husband. Olivia is single after dating a man for the better part of a decade and runs an animal shelter. Paul is married to the beautiful and successful Anna, but they have been unable to have children which is making Anna miserable. Finally, Saffron is becoming a successful movie star and is moving on up, but her relationship with a very famous star who is married could bring her ruin.<br />
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Tom was always there for each one of them and because of his death, they are all reuniting once again. And maybe because of Tom, they will all get their second chance at happiness.<br />
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I loved that this story was set in England for some reason. While the story rotates around all the friends, it does center the most on Holly. While she is a character that I sometimes want to slap, I am still very sympathetic. I enjoyed reading about each character. Each character appears to have the perfect life, but each character is going through their own struggles. This book made me think a lot and ultimately be insanely thankful for my own lovely husband and marriage.<br />
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I WOULD normally do a giveaway for this book, BUT I'm seeing my beautiful sister later this month and want her to read it first.<br />
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**Has anyone read this or other Jane Green books? Did you like them? I have to say I adore this book cover and noticed that her other covers are similar. The photo doesn't do the shimmer of the green justice.<br />
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**I keep trying to picture, if this was a movie, who would play each character. Please pitch in any ideas you have. Here's what I have so far:<br />
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Holly (Rachel Wiesz or Kate Beckinsale)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BQgHs2LamLYOCkXaXFr8UCD24NANeOdt30I6MR8Ka4LSqEAv6J1QgfuDxY7VwfGOC1oAFM3hIlS8OyyhlWL9vd4p8A9MeGOSPrlS-iBmt70iqM_ZJxciMJJBu5Urz78oKrBN6vgJPZ6W/s1600/Rachel-Weisz-1339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BQgHs2LamLYOCkXaXFr8UCD24NANeOdt30I6MR8Ka4LSqEAv6J1QgfuDxY7VwfGOC1oAFM3hIlS8OyyhlWL9vd4p8A9MeGOSPrlS-iBmt70iqM_ZJxciMJJBu5Urz78oKrBN6vgJPZ6W/s320/Rachel-Weisz-1339.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSLrAN43NUzhMro2ZEy3EFHo32oIH0hITXLy6no6KFoS4NDfFBL00qkrFnT_ti55TEKFWcUJRZY_5npSp_dPcM3f25He8zQP7pDtnaoR4iGQjcN0bYCbZzD1rjp0aLzccsUuQdgSRA5FQ/s1600/kateb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSLrAN43NUzhMro2ZEy3EFHo32oIH0hITXLy6no6KFoS4NDfFBL00qkrFnT_ti55TEKFWcUJRZY_5npSp_dPcM3f25He8zQP7pDtnaoR4iGQjcN0bYCbZzD1rjp0aLzccsUuQdgSRA5FQ/s320/kateb.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Saffron (Sienna Miller)<br />
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Olivia (Emily Blunt)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiakevVFP2hhHol_2fmix9gV8PaTbXnIvIRE4DIwR97Sszq8dd_0VJJ63ILsmEeXdYp_mGTQ2DVYmKwfUznkQgwfrXmnZgWiacIQyyXUL7Vk6XTSsq6z3f6RkcHvpfosMIjm6fj4RJHvN/s1600/emily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiakevVFP2hhHol_2fmix9gV8PaTbXnIvIRE4DIwR97Sszq8dd_0VJJ63ILsmEeXdYp_mGTQ2DVYmKwfUznkQgwfrXmnZgWiacIQyyXUL7Vk6XTSsq6z3f6RkcHvpfosMIjm6fj4RJHvN/s320/emily.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Couldn't find any reviews of Second Chance in my Google Reader so here's a couple reviews of her other books:<br />
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<a href="http://www.skrishnasbooks.com/2009/06/dune-road-jane-green.html">S. Krishna's Books</a> - Dune Road<br />
<a href="http://anovelmenagerie.com/2009/08/08/book-review-beach-house/">A Novel Menagerie</a> - The Beach House<br />
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<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-75446454482053999342010-06-04T13:59:00.000-05:002010-06-04T13:59:53.841-05:00Small Knit ProjectSo remember a while back when I said that I was <a href="http://lifeandtimesofanewnewyorker.blogspot.com/search/label/knitting">learning to knit</a>? Well, I've been creating some more little things. I actually have two beautiful projects going but can't tell you about them just yet as one is a gift for my sister. She tends to read this so, I can't spill the beans just yet.<br />
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But here's a little something that I found and whipped up:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PFB1uDsxWD6NhLvYNtroATlD0CJSV1YhZZ99mqwhQ2NJfJmPOlLAF9UVYkMRCO80JKXQO9xC3fPA-UP2GkT5MftYpj79ONLEwBokOoYlTkQiQn99_Dhp9hZuhrA_oQEnTmN1qwGeohDz/s1600/IMG_5302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PFB1uDsxWD6NhLvYNtroATlD0CJSV1YhZZ99mqwhQ2NJfJmPOlLAF9UVYkMRCO80JKXQO9xC3fPA-UP2GkT5MftYpj79ONLEwBokOoYlTkQiQn99_Dhp9hZuhrA_oQEnTmN1qwGeohDz/s640/IMG_5302.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
It's a heart mug rug that I found over at <a href="http://www.favecrafts.com/Kitchen-Knits/Cute-Heart-Mug-Rug#">FaveCrafts</a>. It's super easy and great for beginners. By the way, the mug featured was made by <a href="http://brainella.blogspot.com/">Brainella the Librarian</a>. Go check out her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/brainella">Etsy shop</a> to buy your own. She's also got these awesome owls that I adore and would snatch up had I a job and some extra money.<br />
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Here's the front and back of the mug rug:<br />
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I'm on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/ahack025">Ravelry</a> (name ahack025) so if you knit or crochet, come and be my friend. Do you do any crafts and do you blog about them or share photos? If so, let me know!<br />
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<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-26169113527723482282010-06-04T12:24:00.002-05:002010-06-04T12:27:54.050-05:00NYC - The Cloisters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6SV1daiUZRcuMFiDBWxpcJnCBMiYFTfA7Pj5XGht2bEkff2LrHpQLVmuRhcpe7V1LzqwbpY_W2hsLLoCtZokDWWCkVrrXVpYKqkV4feaHkMpAFZQrdk2TLib1xnJz7QHfv-u8uXKqnk4/s1600/IMG_4731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6SV1daiUZRcuMFiDBWxpcJnCBMiYFTfA7Pj5XGht2bEkff2LrHpQLVmuRhcpe7V1LzqwbpY_W2hsLLoCtZokDWWCkVrrXVpYKqkV4feaHkMpAFZQrdk2TLib1xnJz7QHfv-u8uXKqnk4/s320/IMG_4731.JPG" width="240" /></a>Before I moved from New York City, I visited a few favorite places and saw a few things that I had always meant to see. One of those later ones was <a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/works_of_art/the_cloisters">The Cloisters</a> - a museum dedicated to medieval Europe. I can't believe it took me so long to visit since I lived fairly close to the museum. So my husband and I decided to take a day off from packing and walk down to The Cloisters.<br />
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If you've never heard of The Cloisters or have never been, it is a must-see on my list of things to do in Manhattan. Some people never see it though since it is a fair trip on the Subway since it is on the northern part of the island. Although I think a half an hour subway ride is totally worth the trip (Take the 1 Train local or A Train express).<br />
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The Cloisters is run by the <a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/">Metropolitan Museum of Art</a> and if you pay to see the Met then you can also pop up to The Cloisters for free that day. Keep in mind that the Met and The Cloisters have a suggested fee but can also be payed by donation - great for students or the unemployed when money is tight, although if you have the money...pay the full amount as it is definitely worth it.<br />
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The Cloisters is located in Ft. Tryon park which is a beautiful, wooded and very hilly area. You can see now why they call these part of Manhattan "the Heights".<br />
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</div>My husband and I went in March so the trees are still bare. However it was one of the first beautiful Spring days so we were lucky. As we were walking we caught sight of this little guy in a tree. Very odd.<br />
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</div>The Cloisters is housed in a beautiful castle looking building which are actually pieces of five different French cloisters reassembled together (thanks <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cloisters">Wikipedia</a>!). It is just beautiful. Warning: Since Cloisters are religious buildings, please treat with respect and do not chew gum - a lesson I learned. You can also take photos but just no flash.<br />
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Here's the inside of the building with my husband looking at one of the many huge tapestries. I absolutely adored all the beautiful windows in the building:<br />
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</div>Most of the doorways have actual arches from various Cloisters and medieval buildings. Beautiful.<br />
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</div>I love the stained glass windows:<br />
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</div>I found these ladies and thought that, while they look very regal, are also a bit creepy in their decapitated state:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErstTUoQYa-gEaO1gpZGhJBpdHPPi4HZVn_PwPmAKHNP3I3OQdmGWgA48-xaGPdu-oK2e-BC_jSqcuYUBneaQvZK3smTfCNYwt_a27tEdklu9_-MLkh4f-W4mOYfjNTOUb8yJs0XK3Fca/s1600/IMG_4693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErstTUoQYa-gEaO1gpZGhJBpdHPPi4HZVn_PwPmAKHNP3I3OQdmGWgA48-xaGPdu-oK2e-BC_jSqcuYUBneaQvZK3smTfCNYwt_a27tEdklu9_-MLkh4f-W4mOYfjNTOUb8yJs0XK3Fca/s640/IMG_4693.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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I have no idea who this is but the little green goblin he's stabbing made me laugh. Not sure why.<br />
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</div>One of the main purposes of the visit to The Cloisters were to see their famous unicorn tapestries. They are housed in a fairly dark area so they don't fade the fabric but I still managed to snag a photo in the dark:<br />
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</div>I was absolutely amazed at how beautiful they are in person and how large! I also had no idea how many of them there were. You can go to the <a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/unicorn/unicorn_splash.htm">Met website</a> and check out more about these lovely pieces.<br />
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They have other tapestries as well. This one is from a series of tapestries called The Nine Heros. There are the Hebrew heroes: Joshua, David, Judas Maccabeus, the Christian heroes: Charlemagne, Arthur, and Godfrey of Boullion, and the pagan heroes: Hector, Alexander the Great, and Julius Caesar. I kept on imagining these guys as the super heros of their times. I believe this regal man is Julius Caesar...although he does look exactly how I'd picture Arthur.<br />
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</div>Here's the entrance to a pretty solemn area with various burial statues.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZbTEXiOaM66J4wN8mnBkewy5lHEAt48ylq7qIxz-ldhyphenhyphenAGi3C6rG5V0Z_IJqHA3VFIyD7hsPb59lM-JSOrtyDk_yrpcf3uNZbHydujDUXEdDsw884gF4xpRyoT1K9V2sTXNyFuqRsWci/s1600/IMG_4698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZbTEXiOaM66J4wN8mnBkewy5lHEAt48ylq7qIxz-ldhyphenhyphenAGi3C6rG5V0Z_IJqHA3VFIyD7hsPb59lM-JSOrtyDk_yrpcf3uNZbHydujDUXEdDsw884gF4xpRyoT1K9V2sTXNyFuqRsWci/s640/IMG_4698.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Isn't the windows in here just awesome?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-9qwj6ftEWyn8tL6fnzONSxd1ny3iqrLUmtK-1NuPDKolkGkyd16naxNHhDSNTapWcagFSC-UHIimUZpqimKI1pI9iU8XJ06D-FGKWNGjn3x5kpkNy17wKD3GW8nBnS7d_q_Yl_9tzpH/s1600/IMG_4704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-9qwj6ftEWyn8tL6fnzONSxd1ny3iqrLUmtK-1NuPDKolkGkyd16naxNHhDSNTapWcagFSC-UHIimUZpqimKI1pI9iU8XJ06D-FGKWNGjn3x5kpkNy17wKD3GW8nBnS7d_q_Yl_9tzpH/s640/IMG_4704.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>And another one:<br />
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Here's an interesting guy. I noticed a lot of them had their pets under their feet.<br />
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For some reason I just liked this Madonna and Child. Don't they look happy?<br />
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My husband really liked this piece of stained glass. There was a whole series of them but this one is pretty interesting.<br />
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This lady was my favorite piece in the place. The tapestry had some 3D aspects, like her fuzzy red dress which I loved.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgwiaRNoYUve_H22XQ-NBNgqUkBKC2AVMWAbeJIDC4GGeDzOnp7eDnRXEO-yF8Zg3d0IWnuEY-0jYzAObIwRAtbZQUC0PeYeSgl9JlUn4G_P_PQFK9i-rgDwOQ4chqfkvQYHw8ODpnjOA/s1600/IMG_4706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgwiaRNoYUve_H22XQ-NBNgqUkBKC2AVMWAbeJIDC4GGeDzOnp7eDnRXEO-yF8Zg3d0IWnuEY-0jYzAObIwRAtbZQUC0PeYeSgl9JlUn4G_P_PQFK9i-rgDwOQ4chqfkvQYHw8ODpnjOA/s640/IMG_4706.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The Cloisters also had a lot of illuminated manuscripts on display which is one of my favorite aspects of medieval art. I wasn't able to take photos of those though. Afterwards, we headed outside to soak up some of the lovely sun.<br />
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</div>I so wish I could see this when it is all in bloom.<br />
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</div>Isn't this amazing? They had a couple of plants like this. I can't imagine how much time and effort they went into making this look exactly so.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>If you go, you'll have beautiful views of the Hudson.<br />
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We were obviously not the only ones who were enjoying the sun that day:<br />
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There are all sorts of areas with fountains. Again I wish I could have seen these when they were all in bloom.<br />
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Isn't this architecture just awesome?<br />
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They were starting to grow some beautiful plants inside. Doesn't this one just look delicious? I want one.<br />
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So, if you are ever in Manhattan and have never seen The Cloisters, it is definitely well worth it.<br />
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Thanks for touring the museum with me!<br />
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<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-820459121052482010-06-01T15:51:00.005-05:002010-06-04T14:36:16.660-05:00The Mighty Queens of Freeville - Amy Dickinson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwHlb0Kyy8nkMjyeYlJXhAIKwRwJIRf8p-SkvhejAEn6SBS_oDmxxUxBwHt8F3yTsrfnRDlMTg2h5HpR9UpxTooTQv4VepMfbAAf3r4npN5AhaB4-IAqsZedhCMX-E1LaHzjylhDhhyphenhyphenPP/s1600/Mighty_Queens_PB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnwHlb0Kyy8nkMjyeYlJXhAIKwRwJIRf8p-SkvhejAEn6SBS_oDmxxUxBwHt8F3yTsrfnRDlMTg2h5HpR9UpxTooTQv4VepMfbAAf3r4npN5AhaB4-IAqsZedhCMX-E1LaHzjylhDhhyphenhyphenPP/s400/Mighty_Queens_PB.JPG" width="255" /></a></div><br />
I was asked a short while ago by Nicole from <a href="http://www.bookreporter.com/">Bookreporter</a>, if I wanted to read and review the book <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-mighty-queens-of-Freeville/Amy-Dickinson/e/9781401322854">The Mighty Queens of Freeville</a> by Amy Dickinson. I jumped on the chance because I've heard Amy Dickinson on my favorite NPR podcast, <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=35">Wait Wait Don't Tell Me</a>. She also replaced Ann Landers for the Chicago Tribune and writes the famous advice column <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/askamy/">Ask Amy</a>.<br />
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The subtitle of this book is "A Story of Surprising Second Chances" and what a wonderful little memoir this is. Amy tells her story of getting married, divorced, becoming a single mom of young daughter, moving and living in London, D.C., and Chicago, and often going back home to Freeville, New York where she is surrounded by the strong women in her family who help her through it all.<br />
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The book is just over two hundred pages and is the perfect length with the perfect amount of humor and heartache. I gobbled it right up. I've never had a baby or been through a divorce, but this summer, after moving from NYC to Kentucky, trying to find a job and supporting my husband going back to school, this was exactly the type of book I needed to read. This book made me laugh, want to cry, and wish I had my own Freeville.<br />
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For more info, you can check out her site<a href="http://www.mysecondchancestories.com/"> My Second Chance Stories</a><a href="http://mysecondchancestories.com/">.</a><br />
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The Chicago Tribune and Amy Dickinson are also asking for people to write in their Second Chance stories. Head on over to their <span id="goog_461129080"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/">website<span id="goog_461129081"></span></a> if you want to participate.<br />
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Amy Dickinson is also on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amy-Dickinson/112172374011?v=wall&ref=search">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/AskingAmy">Twitter</a> if you'd like to know more about her. <br />
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<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-28946593154659294862010-05-30T11:56:00.002-05:002010-05-30T11:58:15.053-05:00Cumberland Falls - KentuckyThis past week I got the chance to go camping with a few friends. We wanted to miss the Memorial Day crowd so we went on Thursday to Cumberland Falls in Eastern Kentucky. I thought I'd share some photos of my new state.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDv8ZAr1uZfjkuPiByzEkIKT6SL8zIgsQPl-OAVXxGMIYW9a1sC7UQcwO2Sh1Z70P_fyN4cpbEMLaDZvg6OdT846uxGECwKDfdKbCDWx9IoAhkDL3s9LXIlErAbndgaxseDin8uDaBKHv/s1600/IMG_5192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqDv8ZAr1uZfjkuPiByzEkIKT6SL8zIgsQPl-OAVXxGMIYW9a1sC7UQcwO2Sh1Z70P_fyN4cpbEMLaDZvg6OdT846uxGECwKDfdKbCDWx9IoAhkDL3s9LXIlErAbndgaxseDin8uDaBKHv/s640/IMG_5192.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I went with three of my friends and their new rescue pup, Doc. They blame our little family for their new acquisition. Doc is the third dog we've influenced people on getting. He's still getting used to people and noises but he loves other dogs and children.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-h2KJTS_d9wcLCrbOuwEpNaWmVDzVeSTXAz4vfAByrLTcsTimVnvJJkmV9BJEP_3v_IBl17Eg6rAtWc41VgK1XN_B5dR17jqtuCKznuEdlbQjyJGM2ErIwTrhtNuzWL9CGLy3amzM_vAL/s1600/IMG_5235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-h2KJTS_d9wcLCrbOuwEpNaWmVDzVeSTXAz4vfAByrLTcsTimVnvJJkmV9BJEP_3v_IBl17Eg6rAtWc41VgK1XN_B5dR17jqtuCKznuEdlbQjyJGM2ErIwTrhtNuzWL9CGLy3amzM_vAL/s640/IMG_5235.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Cumberland Falls is known as the "Niagra of the South" and I can see why. It is a beautiful waterfall.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0jssAYAwjJap4_QK2BbrfuxWyi6gvEIgmaj1ehdS3CXylNViDAkIGM_KrFIhlrZVPRTI_ojiNuRl8m83vrasdUVH0L5vpR6gfB2IyIzdiwg_VYAUPL4OexWEfkaLtDY3LJGUN67w_dwn/s1600/IMG_5236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0jssAYAwjJap4_QK2BbrfuxWyi6gvEIgmaj1ehdS3CXylNViDAkIGM_KrFIhlrZVPRTI_ojiNuRl8m83vrasdUVH0L5vpR6gfB2IyIzdiwg_VYAUPL4OexWEfkaLtDY3LJGUN67w_dwn/s640/IMG_5236.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I always love finding beautiful flowers. We met some elderly ladies who were wondering what type of tree this is. Does anyone know?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6lyfQWKePbu_JnoYG6A2ZG2mqJxbYVvIcnynn1N7aEWEOARczmgtD4lN17DPhf8SAmG_Mz8byJASR_hVFyEMRj0HxN8Ac_1LmCqwr034RdHkQNR-qlHLE-j8GqLhpLYJ6nGT_IvVNeO5/s1600/IMG_5239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6lyfQWKePbu_JnoYG6A2ZG2mqJxbYVvIcnynn1N7aEWEOARczmgtD4lN17DPhf8SAmG_Mz8byJASR_hVFyEMRj0HxN8Ac_1LmCqwr034RdHkQNR-qlHLE-j8GqLhpLYJ6nGT_IvVNeO5/s640/IMG_5239.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Doc also loves water but the water was running a bit too fast to let him off leash.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHR7tDDnV5UvCyIwETxpSy98F-A1o_oAnoO6xHvoqLdGKX7-KPwoDaul030YB97tQs7JtZYa3FQ6t16H_a2YxsOXmJBPY9acGUuWBatxD2r4R9wSonfyrr1mTHD8N65d9zF1I6Hk5IV16/s1600/IMG_5246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHR7tDDnV5UvCyIwETxpSy98F-A1o_oAnoO6xHvoqLdGKX7-KPwoDaul030YB97tQs7JtZYa3FQ6t16H_a2YxsOXmJBPY9acGUuWBatxD2r4R9wSonfyrr1mTHD8N65d9zF1I6Hk5IV16/s640/IMG_5246.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I love the coves on the river. I always imagine this is where a treasure might be hidden.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLP55OGDQ6cP0HWTsipUdSNY_xwS7IcTU1N1zS7e80-mSp1xS4uvkb-6dQ9MXhOibgRvT-mjcuuRaVCzeOjf53igUt1NcuAEpiW2EyxkSwk8NAJar_bjqc6wD-wasAZWhOCPzLHjz5rPXn/s1600/IMG_5249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLP55OGDQ6cP0HWTsipUdSNY_xwS7IcTU1N1zS7e80-mSp1xS4uvkb-6dQ9MXhOibgRvT-mjcuuRaVCzeOjf53igUt1NcuAEpiW2EyxkSwk8NAJar_bjqc6wD-wasAZWhOCPzLHjz5rPXn/s640/IMG_5249.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>We then took a short hike to Eagle Falls. It was only 1.5 miles but it was straight up and down. Kind of like this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2pTwEKkwlQOc1CB_kygvivItL_D3vQFJqqDGqMVZTkFxQoJB39UAXkU-umH7CuuwZEK71VB26zaKCXMRUheNdqtKuaoiu1StGC2TN2wbIOUd5_XAKyi_x690_8HpUsD7btUbVzYlNBks/s1600/IMG_5276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2pTwEKkwlQOc1CB_kygvivItL_D3vQFJqqDGqMVZTkFxQoJB39UAXkU-umH7CuuwZEK71VB26zaKCXMRUheNdqtKuaoiu1StGC2TN2wbIOUd5_XAKyi_x690_8HpUsD7btUbVzYlNBks/s640/IMG_5276.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I loved the overhanging rocks on the hike.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGtJTr7B4W0zE0oTvy3D5wnuju-YRjFSY74buHnC7rXPWh0aU6DWJTuso_E2iKkhoReQz-iCMklxxUWooOGdf-y5dQsFmRa8FrmDonu9-FOTpD8ZoCirgfZcMfL-C-Jaw223j9fiBysEn/s1600/IMG_5250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaGtJTr7B4W0zE0oTvy3D5wnuju-YRjFSY74buHnC7rXPWh0aU6DWJTuso_E2iKkhoReQz-iCMklxxUWooOGdf-y5dQsFmRa8FrmDonu9-FOTpD8ZoCirgfZcMfL-C-Jaw223j9fiBysEn/s640/IMG_5250.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oFTZ62HZGVU4DPK6FbIEkMJfihm923uoNIjPeuqzVxjZbrT29eiAMQeX3NuwOhLs71Ja6y7kDpU5gyCK1mUisMswvCoqP5PEmfkZgYq02lhXV9WZ_fywadfwH0TSJyJztLQfAxuZpgFD/s1600/IMG_5252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oFTZ62HZGVU4DPK6FbIEkMJfihm923uoNIjPeuqzVxjZbrT29eiAMQeX3NuwOhLs71Ja6y7kDpU5gyCK1mUisMswvCoqP5PEmfkZgYq02lhXV9WZ_fywadfwH0TSJyJztLQfAxuZpgFD/s640/IMG_5252.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJJdcJkD3CPtrUPGip6ZBwWguYIj8B1i1Dcx4P9gjlB5LrO9DxcQGEyjm7lEhajkK_vApdZLnWWNtuR584WPT5_DTvdsHEPI-y-l6fqLsnmsdhsOO6pPlllCuAEsCppkpbD14t5tGhfY4/s1600/IMG_5253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJJdcJkD3CPtrUPGip6ZBwWguYIj8B1i1Dcx4P9gjlB5LrO9DxcQGEyjm7lEhajkK_vApdZLnWWNtuR584WPT5_DTvdsHEPI-y-l6fqLsnmsdhsOO6pPlllCuAEsCppkpbD14t5tGhfY4/s640/IMG_5253.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>Eagle Falls is another beautiful waterfall:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDVybRV4s2Q4ONaoM80GW_3nNhuS7P4jNSifsc_r4ZtFkI8bCHS15wMq99bcCv18-EiG-HXMOvrOCushWSfeyu1iyKX03lFY8pCaAsetiwGTSobCVCp2-iBoVVS4mG1PuwV1y5nJVb347/s1600/IMG_5260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDVybRV4s2Q4ONaoM80GW_3nNhuS7P4jNSifsc_r4ZtFkI8bCHS15wMq99bcCv18-EiG-HXMOvrOCushWSfeyu1iyKX03lFY8pCaAsetiwGTSobCVCp2-iBoVVS4mG1PuwV1y5nJVb347/s640/IMG_5260.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbNbmfclRNN0Vz6qEGSYLGutIRcUMTsCwH3WdfQiQ0p4-7kDPjTqwLEh3TFfFApt4_tNlfC1N2Yq1j77uUatJg6OSIqw69xNwFUplsdSaneehN8lzS9iHxs4onKh80e46xYLsK786QWFz/s1600/IMG_5262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbNbmfclRNN0Vz6qEGSYLGutIRcUMTsCwH3WdfQiQ0p4-7kDPjTqwLEh3TFfFApt4_tNlfC1N2Yq1j77uUatJg6OSIqw69xNwFUplsdSaneehN8lzS9iHxs4onKh80e46xYLsK786QWFz/s640/IMG_5262.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>Doc got to get in the water again. I have to admit I was a bit jealous. After hiking in the humid heat, a splash in the water would have been wonderful.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjo_ldDOe5amogCy6koWzOQ6ELANMyEKrGPhQFE3zZsNWGsZnGB4OUzhTpqPLVZZTX44H-d6eWF_Ia8bvmrskBsEhjhsR8LfCiu7SQ1cDBTvAupLR3tdpo59E1P8sjqZuyfxdzwRh2cPfA/s1600/IMG_5269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjo_ldDOe5amogCy6koWzOQ6ELANMyEKrGPhQFE3zZsNWGsZnGB4OUzhTpqPLVZZTX44H-d6eWF_Ia8bvmrskBsEhjhsR8LfCiu7SQ1cDBTvAupLR3tdpo59E1P8sjqZuyfxdzwRh2cPfA/s640/IMG_5269.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>We also saw a crazy tree with a huge knot. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuPS3xdqgf_U0QqmuSSPgYG09XhOfD5f_knIo0RZBDeFOiz4loWnrdAq8sWJrXj8w12Sp6jh7THCW2xIDR3ypfJn8Pq-IsGjr7rywM47yPHh6UcYk0QsZVM7Ktu6b39MhCJmdAxXKOgRO/s1600/IMG_5251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuPS3xdqgf_U0QqmuSSPgYG09XhOfD5f_knIo0RZBDeFOiz4loWnrdAq8sWJrXj8w12Sp6jh7THCW2xIDR3ypfJn8Pq-IsGjr7rywM47yPHh6UcYk0QsZVM7Ktu6b39MhCJmdAxXKOgRO/s640/IMG_5251.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>While hiking to Eagle Falls, we got to see Cumberland Falls from the other side. It's amazing how noisy a huge waterfall is.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrzjVB2KLo5E4beRiT2oVD0K716rd4pL3fhudGfIr4jez57-5aKrHOdVLYCy3HNRrTZmZLVlt8ZITvstC3ZH8dgiwYC6aJO_e79qj_uZ5F0MWF0UXoVTf2Bn-4cJEXqw0kRSSoWKwTihE/s1600/IMG_5282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrzjVB2KLo5E4beRiT2oVD0K716rd4pL3fhudGfIr4jez57-5aKrHOdVLYCy3HNRrTZmZLVlt8ZITvstC3ZH8dgiwYC6aJO_e79qj_uZ5F0MWF0UXoVTf2Bn-4cJEXqw0kRSSoWKwTihE/s640/IMG_5282.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The main purpose of the trip though was to see the famous Moonbow. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7St53h86_Q7sfWW7HIE-dR_h4Hu1cAva2U6D7UVpIntiYX2k-snYqk5An_0jTi3t4ksyfTFjtgTRws61Cm87gMjpMhH12MEhRUWdwT1MHQpaQdA5wzJdA_SPkt7-fG13LtQmWzQ7VcSVy/s1600/IMG_5188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7St53h86_Q7sfWW7HIE-dR_h4Hu1cAva2U6D7UVpIntiYX2k-snYqk5An_0jTi3t4ksyfTFjtgTRws61Cm87gMjpMhH12MEhRUWdwT1MHQpaQdA5wzJdA_SPkt7-fG13LtQmWzQ7VcSVy/s640/IMG_5188.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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We went close to mid-night and waited and waited for the full moon to peak out of the clouds. And I saw it! It was a beautiful white bow. I had help setting my camera and with and ISO of 800 and an open shutter for two minutes I caught these photos:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_pgiTogAF2N0LHgUx_j2_Ig7ANK-cAO60pg0s2YRHyGRsjKPGnqyZZBrnSImzGRB5tm5YQOeLoPJPEaNLZYpL2gMGzUzzNe8VCdqLsrTWdvB3E3wQ3bGJp1gCKOd06j4-rxC_MhU6Ewv/s1600/IMG_5160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_pgiTogAF2N0LHgUx_j2_Ig7ANK-cAO60pg0s2YRHyGRsjKPGnqyZZBrnSImzGRB5tm5YQOeLoPJPEaNLZYpL2gMGzUzzNe8VCdqLsrTWdvB3E3wQ3bGJp1gCKOd06j4-rxC_MhU6Ewv/s640/IMG_5160.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRZEX7dRmgU2DHNZ7eWzY8rRzVykiHzuBWfRqDUeSIxIpHSvErnFB5Oc1OIMEmuCEg5isro-s0QpFsPgZJA2bh49RWBqXJz8xqV2Bl4DRDrNhaFvNFNUSqBl3-mNi-b3r2sYea5YfqbRC/s1600/IMG_5169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRZEX7dRmgU2DHNZ7eWzY8rRzVykiHzuBWfRqDUeSIxIpHSvErnFB5Oc1OIMEmuCEg5isro-s0QpFsPgZJA2bh49RWBqXJz8xqV2Bl4DRDrNhaFvNFNUSqBl3-mNi-b3r2sYea5YfqbRC/s640/IMG_5169.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Next time I will try and do less time to see if I can get it to look more like the white band. Have you ever seen a Moonbow?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-VsYtSne3xgfCQUUxV6XP4HBmhuhOIngZcYPRW_UWO-hmpDFxSy9SY7yNL4EZroiAwYgOgpolYnciPDAFeRly6zUspjTopfYsFX7iLSgIfYQY0NgjY4g5ZS4vpLm5xhoIfyXE51mpO-n/s1600/IMG_5165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-VsYtSne3xgfCQUUxV6XP4HBmhuhOIngZcYPRW_UWO-hmpDFxSy9SY7yNL4EZroiAwYgOgpolYnciPDAFeRly6zUspjTopfYsFX7iLSgIfYQY0NgjY4g5ZS4vpLm5xhoIfyXE51mpO-n/s640/IMG_5165.JPG" width="640" /></a><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-88503891648268514522010-05-27T10:45:00.014-05:002010-06-04T14:24:09.187-05:00The Queen of Palmyra - Minrose Gwin (Giveaway!)<div style="text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNcfBWZmSW3ilfHTYxuZgER1k9jAzvJn_f55APTVhaSrELdG8q1MOtag2f7KP6AKz8J4XeNEwLH_B2gqgJ1JZaRRE7b3kwgz0L__SIBVjzoLSZGMLzcg1LTSqrbe_IrVQLOJMfKEjgdiy/s1600/Herbert_Schmalz-Zenobia.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xPPdqULVYeT6vclBzpqLBSGbq04ROO543fjQKTnvaRCcNe3ABS9W1_G6eU1d5lNtxJWxrwRlevIxNqE0NvGLpMvsFiVbCdDiDZcH8XZKkIB_7TQ0yfivASC5lBy2i-hIBPOuV_EBmwwN/s1600/PalmyraBook.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475977194055214434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xPPdqULVYeT6vclBzpqLBSGbq04ROO543fjQKTnvaRCcNe3ABS9W1_G6eU1d5lNtxJWxrwRlevIxNqE0NvGLpMvsFiVbCdDiDZcH8XZKkIB_7TQ0yfivASC5lBy2i-hIBPOuV_EBmwwN/s320/PalmyraBook.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 212px;" /></a>I was asked to join the <a href="http://tlcbooktours.com/2010/03/minrose-gwyn-author-of-the-queen-of-palmyra-on-tour-may-2010/">TLC Book Tour</a> for Minrose Gwin's novel <a href="http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Queen-Palmyra-Minrose-Gwin/?isbn=9780061840326">The Queen of Palmyra</a>. I'll have to admit that I was a bit hesitant because this is not normally the type of book I choose to read. But since I moved to the sort-of-South, I thought I'd broaden my horizons in reading. All I can say is Thank Goodness I did because this is an amazing novel. I sucked it right up and immediately gave it Five Stars on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/">GoodReads</a>. <br />
<br />
<div></div><div><i>The Queen of Palmyra</i> takes place that fateful summer in 1963 in Mississippi when temperatures got to record breaking highs, JFK and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medgar_Evers">Medgar Evers</a> were assassinated, and the country's racial tensions were at an all time high.<br />
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</div><div></div><div>Florence Forrest is a young white girl and it is the summer between her fourth and fifth year in school. However, she is way behind in studies because for the past year, her father and mother have been on the "lam" as she calls it, traveling around while her father unsuccessfully tries to hold one job after another. They finally return home to Millwood, Mississippi and that's when things start to crumble.<br />
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</div><div></div><div>Florence's father, unbeknownst to her, is part of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ku_Klux_Klan">Klan</a> which is something her mother abhors. However, her father is a bit of a terror and as their marriage slowly crumbles, he tries to keep Florence close by telling her stories that have deeper darker meanings. Her mother manages a quite successful cake business but Florence starts being pawned off more and more on others, mainly Zenie, her grandmother's black housemaid. That summer, Zenie's college student niece, Eva, comes to stay with them. Florence is made a witness to all and must finally grow up and choose for herself which path she must follow.<br />
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</div><div></div><div>I found this to be such an absorbing novel. I normally don't choose to read novels with such obvious serious topics. In the past, I normally tried to read lighter books for an escapism type of enjoyment. But I'm finding that more and more I'm steering toward books with tougher topics. This is definitely one of those novels. <br />
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</div><div></div><div>Florence is such an interesting character because of her obvious lack of understanding but she observes everything and tries to figure out what is going on. She's such a neglected character. She is left to fend for herself often and goes long periods of time without food, a bath, or a a change of clothes. <br />
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</div><div></div><div>I have to say that all the other characters were so well written as well. Her father, though while a terrifying character, is flawed and realistic. Her mother refuses to stand up and chooses to escape. Zenie and Eva were my favorite characters. Zenie, named after Zenobia the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zenobia">Queen of Palmyra</a>, tells Florence stories about the Queen. While a good influence on Florence, Zenie views the care-taking of Florence as just another job and often refers to the girl as "it". Eva...well you'll just have to read the story to find out about Eva.<br />
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</div><div></div><div>I keep wanting to blab about the book so I think this would make a perfect Book Club book. While I've never read <i>The Help</i>, I have read <i>The Color Purple</i> and <a href="http://lifeandtimesofanewnewyorker.blogspot.com/2008/07/1001-books-update-their-eyes-were.html">Their Eyes Were Watching God</a>. <br />
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</div><div></div><div>***Would you recommend any books like this that are all absorbing?<br />
<br />
</div><div></div><div><b>The TLC Book Tour Stops:</b></div><div><b> </b></div>Tuesday, May 4th: <a href="http://www.fiveboroughbooks.com/2010/05/blog-tour-queen-of-palmyra.html">five borough book review</a><br />
Wednesday, May 5th: <a href="http://thebluestockings.com/2010/05/the-queen-of-palmyra/">The Bluestocking Society</a><br />
Monday, May 10th: <a href="http://www.rundpinne.com/2010/05/book-tour-reviewthe-queen-of-palmyra-by.html">Rundpinne</a><br />
Tuesday, May 11th: <a href="http://nattymichelle.blogspot.com/2010/05/queen-of-palmyra-by-minrose-gwin.html">Natty Michelle</a><br />
<div><a href="http://nattymichelle.blogspot.com/2010/05/queen-of-palmyra-by-minrose-gwin.html"></a>Wednesday, May 12th: <a href="http://pamperspective.blogspot.com/2010/05/book-review-queen-of-palmyra-by-minrose.html">Pam's Perspective</a></div><div><a href="http://pamperspective.blogspot.com/2010/05/book-review-queen-of-palmyra-by-minrose.html"></a>Wednesday, May 12th: <a href="http://myreadingroom-crystal.blogspot.com/2010/05/book-tour-and-review-queen-of-palmyra.html">My Reading Room</a><br />
Wednesday, May 19th: <a href="http://perfectretort.blogspot.com/2010/05/queen-of-palmyra.html">Staircase Wit</a><br />
Thursday, May 20th: <a href="http://litandlife.blogspot.com/2010/05/queen-of-palmyra-by-minrose-gwyn.html">Lit and Life</a><br />
Tuesday, May 25th: <a href="http://dolcebellezza.wordpress.com/2010/05/25/the-queen-of-palmyra/">Dolce Bellezza</a><br />
Wednesday, May 26th: <a href="http://www.takemeawayreading.com/2010/05/blog-tour-queen-of-palmyra.html">Take Me Away</a><br />
Thursday, May 27th: <a href="http://lifeandtimesofanewnewyorker.blogspot.com/2010/05/queen-of-palmyra-minrose-gwin-giveaway.html">Life and Times of a “New” New Yorker</a><br />
Monday, May 31st: <a href="http://greenjello.typepad.com/">Green Jello</a></div><div><a href="http://greenjello.typepad.com/"></a>Tuesday, June 1st: <a href="http://www.crazy-for-books.com/">Crazy for Books</a> <br />
<br />
More reviews:<br />
<a href="http://www.devourerofbooks.com/2010/05/the-queen-of-palmyra-by-minrose-gwin-book-review">Devourer of Books</a><br />
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<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: -webkit-xxx-large;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: -webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; color: #0000ee; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475988145494255650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNcfBWZmSW3ilfHTYxuZgER1k9jAzvJn_f55APTVhaSrELdG8q1MOtag2f7KP6AKz8J4XeNEwLH_B2gqgJ1JZaRRE7b3kwgz0L__SIBVjzoLSZGMLzcg1LTSqrbe_IrVQLOJMfKEjgdiy/s400/Herbert_Schmalz-Zenobia.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 334px;" /></span></span></span></div><div><div>This is <a href="http://www.illusionsgallery.com/Schmalz.html">Herbert Schmalz</a>'s 19th Century painting of the Queen of Palmyra.<br />
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</div><div></div><div>You can also listen to Minrose Gwin talk about her book over at <a href="http://www.bookclubgirl.com/book_club_girl/2010/05/listen-to-todays-show-with-minrose-gwin-discussing-the-queen-of-palmyra-now.html">Book Club Girl</a><br />
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</div><div></div><div><b>Now for the giveaway: </b> I have an extra copy of The Queen of Palmyra. All you have to do is leave a comment, a way to contact you, and answer the question is asked just above. The giveaway is open through June 11th and like always, my contest is open international so good luck!</div><div><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" /></div></div></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-87078065552562499942010-05-26T20:26:00.003-05:002010-05-26T20:34:34.143-05:00Life After Yes - Winner!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGj3PGKDcmgNn3tKs0OkADHizHVK13zqyTHPPnAwzVdHXhlQBeZ1iCwcuMYMsMKdz8cGFKV1MEDZKRgkFbZqvGTyxqLWSNWSgj9iM__up3zs6kNQTBqSbx0DvVKICm4bo89hK5x-bmdVX/s1600/life-after-yes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGj3PGKDcmgNn3tKs0OkADHizHVK13zqyTHPPnAwzVdHXhlQBeZ1iCwcuMYMsMKdz8cGFKV1MEDZKRgkFbZqvGTyxqLWSNWSgj9iM__up3zs6kNQTBqSbx0DvVKICm4bo89hK5x-bmdVX/s200/life-after-yes.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475755240397413570" /></a>Thank you all for entering my contest for <a href="http://lifeandtimesofanewnewyorker.blogspot.com/2010/05/life-after-yes-aidan-donnelley-rowley.html">Life After Yes</a>. And now for the winner:<div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://serendipityteacher.blogspot.com/">Vivienne</a> from Serendipity!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Woo hoo! I love Vivienne's blog, <a href="http://serendipityteacher.blogspot.com/">Serendipity</a>, if you've never checked it out before. She's a wonderful blog lady from the UK, and is currently trudging through Wuthering Heights. Hang in there!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" /></div></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6345341059185062738.post-44521371998285067422010-05-25T23:06:00.006-05:002010-05-30T11:27:21.215-05:00Let the Great World Spin - Colum McCann<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjoDhiGjdNJwn0OjKiPwrk_cmmxhZlYveqm_NogYKDiCMpVaK_Bma-hD2pWIizakV7MwjXYTAcITFF0zWC9eX2gii0cM8fhYzitvDRb5DwsuhtPoCjHSwJ7-CZav3MHCOZ3Wa-gZTJKyv/s1600/greatworldspin.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475425965306847890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjoDhiGjdNJwn0OjKiPwrk_cmmxhZlYveqm_NogYKDiCMpVaK_Bma-hD2pWIizakV7MwjXYTAcITFF0zWC9eX2gii0cM8fhYzitvDRb5DwsuhtPoCjHSwJ7-CZav3MHCOZ3Wa-gZTJKyv/s320/greatworldspin.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 210px;" /></a>Last night I finished reading Colum McCann's novel <a href="http://www.colummccann.com/">Let the Great World Spin</a>. It won the <a href="http://lifeandtimesofanewnewyorker.blogspot.com/2009/06/national-book-awards-challenge_18.html">2009 National Book Award</a> and I can see why. When I first heard about this book with it's NYC setting, I wanted to get my hands on it. So of course when I was asked to join in the book tour for <a href="http://tlcbooktours.com/2010/01/colum-mccann-author-of-let-the-great-world-spin-on-tour-may-2010/">TLC Book Tours</a> I was ecstatic.<br />
<br />
Let me start my synopsis by quoting a piece from the novel: <span style="font-style: italic;">It had never occurred to me before but everything in New York is built upon another thing, nothing is entirely by itself, each thing as strange as the last, and connected.</span><br />
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I love this quote. It depicts New York City AND the novel so very well. Most of the book takes place or focuses on NYC, 1974. We start the story centered around two Irish brothers in the Bronx. The story then skips perspectives, darting around the city but each story is somehow connected to each other. Pivoting in almost each story is the August event of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_Petit">Philippe Petit's </a>tightrope walk between the Twin Towers.<br />
<br />
When I first heard about this book, I thought it was going to be a series of interconnected short stories. That's not really what it is. It's a full novel with various perspectives. Front and center is the story of Corrigan, an Irish man of God who moves to the Bronx to work with people in need. Think of Corrigan as an odd modern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi">Francis of Assisi</a>. Corrigan's story is mainly told through the eyes of his brother but we hear from nearby prostitutes as well. Then the story skips to others: an Upper East Side wife, a wealthy judge, a single black mother who's lost her son in Vietnam, an artist who's fifteen minutes has come and gone, and many others.<br />
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I can't tell you all the voices in the story without giving away some of the pivotal story, but it's all interconnected. Just like the city. I remember living there and even though there are so many many people, the city hummed as one. If it was a bleak rainy day, everyone was bleak. If it was a beautiful sunny Spring day, everyone perked up. But what intrigued me was looking back into the past life of NYC and it's people. This glimpse in 1974 is not pretty. People were used to being mugged, seeing prostitutes on street corners, and drugged up people daily. I remember hearing stories from my neighbors about heroin needles on the street and the drug running from Jersey. While NYC today is a much cleaner and safer place to be, living there I often turned a blind eye to the darker aspects of the city. I remember one winter's day, seeing a homeless man on the subway going around stealing the coats of other homeless people sleeping on the benches. He had about five coats and was picking up his sixth. But what do you do? I'm not proud to say what I did (turn a blind eye) and what Corrigan would have done is not the same thing.<br />
<br />
Was this book good? Yes. Was it a difficult read? Yes. Does it make me think? Yes.<br />
<br />
I'll end this review with something Colum McCann wrote at the end: <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The world spins. We stumble on. It is enough.</span> <br />
<i><br />
</i></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Colum McCann's TLC Book Tour Stops:</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span> Monday, May 3rd: <a href="http://www.stephanieswrittenword.com/?p=2458">Stephanie's Written Word</a> <br />
Tuesday, May 4th: <a href="http://www.skrishnasbooks.com/2010/05/book-review-let-great-world-spin-colum.html">S. Krishna's Books </a><br />
<a href="http://www.skrishnasbooks.com/2010/05/book-review-let-great-world-spin-colum.html"></a> Wednesday, May 5th: <a href="http://literatehousewife.com/2010/05/251-let-the-great-world-spin/">The Literate Housewife Review </a><br />
<a href="http://literatehousewife.com/2010/05/251-let-the-great-world-spin/"></a> Thursday, May 6th: <a href="http://savvyverseandwit.com/2010/05/let-the-great-world-spin-by-colum-mccann.html">Savvy Verse & Wit</a><br />
Friday, May 7th: <a href="http://www.luxuryreading.com/2010/05/blog-tour-let-great-world-spin-by-colum.html">Luxury Reading </a><br />
<a href="http://www.luxuryreading.com/2010/05/blog-tour-let-great-world-spin-by-colum.html"></a> Monday, May 10th: <a href="http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/?s=let+the+great+world+spin&submit.x=0&submit.y=0&submit=Search">She is Too Fond of Books</a><br />
Tuesday, May 11th: <a href="http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/2010/05/review-let-great-world-spin-by-colum.html">My Friend Amy</a><br />
Wednesday, May 12th: <a href="http://www.thebrainlair.com/2010/05/blog-tour-and-giveaway-let-great-world.html">The Brain Lair</a><br />
Thursday, May 13th: <a href="http://diaryofaneccentric.blogspot.com/2010/05/review-let-great-world-spin-by-colum.html">Diary of an Eccentric </a><br />
<a href="http://diaryofaneccentric.blogspot.com/2010/05/review-let-great-world-spin-by-colum.html"></a> Friday, May 14th: <a href="http://litandlife.blogspot.com/2010/05/let-great-world-spin-by-colum-mccann.html">Lit and Life </a><br />
<a href="http://litandlife.blogspot.com/2010/05/let-great-world-spin-by-colum-mccann.html"></a> Monday, May 17th: <a href="http://bookclubclassics.com/Blog/tlc-presents-great-world-spin/">Book Club Classics</a><br />
Tuesday, May 18th: <a href="http://bfishreads.blogspot.com/2010/05/review-let-great-world-spin-by-colum.html">Beth Fish Reads</a><br />
Wednesday, May 19th: <a href="http://bookchatter.net/2010/05/19/review-book-tour-let-the-great-world-spin/">Book Chatter</a><br />
Thursday, May 20th: <a href="http://www.eveningallafternoon.com/2010/05/let-the-great-world-spin.html">Evening All Afternoon</a><br />
<a href="http://www.eveningallafternoon.com/2010/05/let-the-great-world-spin.html"></a>Friday, May 21st: <a href="http://www.brunetteonabudget.com/2010/05/book-review-let-great-world-spin.html">Brunette on a Budget</a><br />
<a href="http://www.brunetteonabudget.com/2010/05/book-review-let-great-world-spin.html"></a> Monday, May 24th: <a href="http://readywhenyouarecb.blogspot.com/2010/05/let-great-world-spin-by-colum-mccann.html">Ready When You Are, C.B. </a><br />
<a href="http://readywhenyouarecb.blogspot.com/2010/05/let-great-world-spin-by-colum-mccann.html"></a> Tuesday, May 25th: <a href="http://thenewdorkreviewofbooks.blogspot.com/2010/05/let-great-world-spin-elegant-profound.html">The New Dork Review </a><br />
<a href="http://thenewdorkreviewofbooks.blogspot.com/2010/05/let-great-world-spin-elegant-profound.html"></a> Wednesday, May 26th: <a href="http://lifeandtimesofanewnewyorker.blogspot.com/2010/05/let-great-world-spin-colum-mccann.html">Life and Times of a "New" New Yorker</a><br />
Thursday, May 27th: <a href="http://www.nonsuchbook.typepad.com/">Nonsuch Book</a><br />
Friday, May 28th: <a href="http://www.caribousmom.com/">Caribousmom</a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOQ0gSlk-JgUaSdYgZAsPDBb72ap6B6BbOOfPc7IyFBLMwqwnzBcaZomCkffT6QOnQT0t6QZl9RiPAldOkE9VZHxmuHnFPC-vvQ41BLHYhRzsZ5P0U5XtamuMarSeHJs9KemhdmOhaXKV/s1600/tlc-logo-resized.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475581756638360082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOQ0gSlk-JgUaSdYgZAsPDBb72ap6B6BbOOfPc7IyFBLMwqwnzBcaZomCkffT6QOnQT0t6QZl9RiPAldOkE9VZHxmuHnFPC-vvQ41BLHYhRzsZ5P0U5XtamuMarSeHJs9KemhdmOhaXKV/s320/tlc-logo-resized.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 150px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 150px;" /></a> <br />
<div></div><div><div><div></div><div><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3707953196_e22eecb895.jpg?v=0" /></div></div></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978371169108528359noreply@blogger.com3