Morning the Burned House by Margaret Atwood

by CarolNo Comments
I've read several of Atwood's books over the years, but that's not why I picked this one up, even though I do enjoy the short pieces of hers I've read. When we heard Louise Penny speak, she said that several pieces of the poetry in her Gamache series come from Morning in the Burned House. The poems are lovely and dark and sad. They are full of feminine power and grief, truth and mythology, anti-war messages and pro-environment. I love how the words sounds and feel, how the phrases at times are just perfect, although not always. Not every poem struck me, but enough did to make this worth reading. I wanted to give you a few bits, but taking out a few lines from the poetry doesn't really give you the feel, takes away the meaning and most of the feel of the poems. I will give you a middle bit from "The Loneliness of the Military Historian", but you can find the whole...
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Thursday’s Tale: The Haunting of Loftus Hall

by Carol3 Comments
Today, I've got another ghost story from Ireland. It was also retold by St. John D. Seymour and Harry L. Neligan in True Irish Ghost Stories, 1914. You can purchase the book on Amazon. In the middle of the eighteenth century, Charles Tottenham, a member of the Irish Parliament, lived in Loftus Hall, in County Wexford. He had two daughters, Elizabeth and Anne. Elizabeth, the older, was married, but Anne lived with him and his second wife, her step-mother, in the hall.  The father was a cold austere man, and the stepmother was as horrible as they tend to be in fairytales. Anne was lonely and depressed, with no friends and unloved by her family. One wet and stormy night, as the three sat in the drawing room, they were startled by a loud knocking at the outer gate. Soon the servant announced that a young gentleman on horseback was requesting lodging and shelter. He had lost his way and had been guided by the only light he had seen....
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Gingerbread Kisses by Beate Boeker

by Carol2 Comments
  Michelle's Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge doesn't start until November 23, but I'm already in the mood for Christmas stories. Gingerbread Kisses is a novella in the Sweet Christmas Kisses 2 collection. Carol is baking cookies for her sister's wedding in a beautiful hotel in Italy. She practically raised her sister and is feeling a little lost at the thought that she will be losing her. Of course, the fact that the sister is over-demanding and subjects Carol, and everyone else, to her whims, makes the idea of marrying her off a little easier. Whoever heard of skinny gingerbread men? Tom is the manager of the hotel and best friend of the groom.  It's a sweet romance. Tom has bit of a temper, but is really a nice, thoughtful guy. I like Carol, too, she's pretty and curvy and nice, but when she has to confront people she can. It made me smile. Granted the romance was quick but it's a novella, that's expected. The...
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Readers’ Workouts – 11/3

by Carol4 Comments
I almost didn't post anything today - that's how bad my week was. I think I might have just sat around all week eating candy. Here are my steps for the week. Like I said - not very good. I pledge to do better this week.   My current plan is to do a core workout on Monday, cardio on Tuesday (60 mins), upper body on Wednesday, cardio on Thursday (60 mins), total body workout on Friday and cardio on Saturday (60+ mins). I failed this week.   My week: Thursday - 1 mile walk with the dog I’m down 11 lbs from 5/19. (My goal is 20 lbs) I usually listen to a book while I'm running or walking. This week I'm listening to Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith. How was your week? Better than mine, I hope. Readers’ Workouts is hosted by Joy at Joy’s Book Blog. Thanks!...
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Boost It Tuesday: Book Blogger and Author Facebook Link Up

by Carol1 Comment
  Have you noticed that despite ALL of your Facebook "Likes" you are only "reaching" a very small portion of those followers? Does that bother you? It bothers us, and we want to boost each other up. Link up with Every Free Chance, Candace's Book Blog, & If These Books Could Talk for Boost It Tuesday!   What is Boost It Tuesday, you ask? Well, we want to help each other out. We are a great community of bloggers and authors, and we should be supporting each other. Share your Facebook address below, then visit the Facebook pages, like 3-5 posts, share or comment on 1 or 2 posts. That's it. You don't have to "like" the page if you don't want to, just "like" some posts. Let's help expand each other's page reach. Who knows! You may find a new blog or author to follow along the away. Please be aware that any non-Facebook links will be deleted.   Here are some tips for...
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Happy Halloween

by Carol7 Comments
Today's Trick-or-Treat here. This is Amber as Ezio from Assassin's Creed (I think). One of my treats for this evening. I have it pinned on my Halloween board. I'm going to make a couple of more Pinterest goodies  that I'll probably post on Instagram. And my attempt at a Poirot pumpkin. Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Melinda at West Metro Mommy Reads....
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