Carol's Notebook – Page 411

Thursday’s Tale: Why The Bananas Belong To The Monkey

June 20, 2013July 24, 2014 by Carol4 Comments

I have a fondness for just-so stories, the ones that tell why people or animals are the way they are. Today's tale, "Why the Bananas Belong to the Monkey," comes from Brazil. I have to admit that I chose this one because I've been on a bit of a banana kick lately. I've had one for breakfast most mornings, whether with eggs or in a smoothie. "Once upon a time when the world had just been made and there was only one kind of banana, but very many kinds of monkeys, there was a little old woman who had a big garden full of banana trees." It was difficult for the woman to gather them all, so she made a bargain with the largest monkey, promising him half of the bananas if he would gather them all for her. He got all the bananas but of course kept the best ones for himself and gave the old lady the small ones. The...

Audiobook Week Mid-Week Meme

June 19, 2013 by Carol5 Comments

Today is the third day of We’re Listening: Audiobook Week 2013. Hosted for the fourth year by Jen at Devourer of Books, Audiobook Week runs June 17–21. It’s a fun way to find audiobook reviewers and see what everyone’s listening to. Today's post is a quick, middle of the week meme. Current/most recent audiobook: Dragons at the Party by John Cleary, read by Shaun Grindell Impressions: This is a new series for me, although this one was first published in 1988. The mystery itself is interesting, although I'm not necessarily thrilled with one of the characters, but thankfully I think this is probably his only appearance in the series. Grindell does a good job, disappearing for me if that makes sense. He fits the story and the characters. Current/most recent favorite audiobook: A recent favorite audiobook is Frank Sinatra in a Blender by Matthew McBride, read by Keith Szarabajka. Violent and funny. Favorite narrator you’ve discovered recently: I don't really notice narrators for the most part. If I do...

How I Choose My Audiobooks

June 18, 2013June 18, 2013 by Carol13 Comments

Today is the second day of We’re Listening: Audiobook Week 2013. Hosted for the fourth year by Jen at Devourer of Books, Audiobook Week runs June 17–21. It’s a fun way to find audiobook reviewers and see what everyone’s listening to. Today's prompt is about how we choose our audiobooks. How do you decide what you’ll listen to? Do you mostly listen, or split time between listening and reading? Particularly if you split time, how do you decide what you’ll consume in audio and what in print? I mentioned yesterday that I tend to listen to mainly mysteries with the occasional romance thrown in. I need things that are light, that don't take too much though, since I'm usually doing something else while listening and I can't focus on too much detail or overly complicated plots. Lots of characters can get a little confusing too. For the most part, I choose from what's available at my library, but lately I've received a...

2012-2013, My Audiobook Year

June 17, 2013June 18, 2013 by Carol15 Comments

Today is the first day of We’re Listening: Audiobook Week 2013. Hosted for the fourth year by Jen at Devourer of Books, Audiobook Week runs June 17–21. It’s a fun way to find audiobook reviewers and see what everyone’s listening to. Today's prompt is about our audiobook year. Are you new to audiobooks in the last year? Have you been listening to them forever but discovered something new this year? Favorite titles? New times/places to listen? This is your chance to introduce yourself and your general listening experience. I've been listening to audio books for a few years. They are just the perfect companions for walks, runs, chores around the house. I tend to only listen to mysteries and the occasional romance, but I'm thinking maybe I should branch out since so many people seem to enjoy listening to non-fiction titles. A couple favorites I've listened to in the past year: The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny (review) The Golden Egg by Donna Leon...

Review: Cassie Scot: Paranormal Detective by Christine Amsden

June 17, 2013July 9, 2013 by Carol6 Comments

Title: Cassie Scot: Paranormal Detective (Cassie Scot #1) Author: Christine Amsden Category: Paranormal Mystery Published: May 15, 2013 by Twilight Times Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Add: Goodreads Purchase: Amazon | IndieBound | Book Depository Cassie Scot is the ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family’s reputation isn’t easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly belongs. Cassie Scot is a good mystery with a paranormal twist, but to be honest Cassie herself is what sold me on the book. Setting: Eagle Rock is an interesting town full of regular folks and magical folks. The magic is not in the open but it's kind of one of those known secrets. People suspect and respect the magical families but never actually accuse...

Book Blast: Sweet Revenge by Vivi Dumas

June 14, 2013July 1, 2013 by Carol8 Comments

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. What if that woman is a demon, in fact Lilith's very own daughter? Isabella LaCoste vowed to get her revenge on her ex and his new human fiance. She didn't commit fifty years of her life to be thrown out like last season's runway fad. But taking vengeance on an upper level Shifter Demon and the newly crowned Voodoo Princess might not be a one demon job. She volunteers her services to Lucifer to deliver Angel and Jacque in exchange for his help. She never expected her new partner in crime would fill the void in her broken heart. Not even death brought him peace. Xavier Toussant wanted out of his contract and the killing business. His last assignment was his own brother and he failed to deliver. Lucifer didn't appreciate his valor in dealing with his brother, Jacque. In fact, it only created more problems. Xavier's back on assignment to capture his...