Are you a writer?

by Carol6 Comments
I don't do much (any) creative writing, but I do love fairy tales, so wanted to pass this on. Stephanie and Simcha are hosting a writing contest. So the prince has rescued his princess... the beautiful maiden has been saved from the curse...the wicked witch has been vanquished once and for all...and then what? For all those of you who have wondered about what comes after the Ever After, or how the fairy tale might have turned out differently with just a few adjustments to the plot, now is your chance to find out. For this contest we are going to focus on the story of Cinderella and all of the myriad of ways this popular fairy tale can be told. You can re-imagine any aspect of the Cinderella story or even choose just one of the story’s themes to play around with. Perhaps you might retell it from a different character’s perspective...
Read More

Best of 2010

by Carol11 Comments
This set of questions is the perfect way to look back on a year’s worth of reading. Best Book of 2010: The Glamour of Grammar by Roy Peter Clark (yes, I'm a geek) Worst Book of 2010: Montana Destiny by R. C. Ryan (didn't even finish it) Most Disappointing Book: Escapade by Walter Satterthwait Most Surprising (In a Good Way): The Truth about Forever by Sarah Dessen Book You Recommended to Most People: The Help by Kathryn Stockett Best Series You Discovered:The Armand Gamache series by Louise Penny Favorite New Authors You Discovered: Emily St. John Mandel, Kate Wilhelm Most Hilarious Read: The Inimitable Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse (but it didn't have much competition- I didn't read many funny books this year that weren't children's books) Most Thrilling, Unputdownable Book: Blood Oath by Christopher Farnsworth Book You Most Anticipated: Fired Up by Jayne Anne Krentz Favorite Cover of a Book Read: The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill Most Memorable Character: India Black from the book by Carol K. Carr and Crispin...
Read More

Thumbling by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

by Carol3 Comments
"Thumbling" by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm The story of Thumbling is an odd little fairy tale. It starts like many others with a couple wishing they had a child. At last their wish is granted, although their son is only as long as a thumb. He's not helpless however, and convinces his father to sell him to two strangers who plan to exhibit him in a town. Thumbling escapes from those two only to decide to hitch a ride with a pair of robbers. He tells them that he will help them steal from a pastor, but when the get to the home, Thumbling disrupts their plan. Not that it does him any good. He ends up getting eaten by a cow and after he screams loud enough the cow is killed because the pastor thinks it is possessed. Unfortunately, before Thumbling can escape from the stomach, the stomach is taken by a wolf who eats it. Thumbling speaks to the...
Read More

Holiday Reading Challenge Wrap-up

by Carol3 Comments
I didn't get around to all the holiday books that I wanted to read, but I did finish several. I may read one more in January, but this challenge ends at the end of the month. Skipping Christmas by John Grisham A Fatal Feast by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain Christmas at The Mysterious Bookshop edited by Otto Penzler Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews The Fat Man by Ken Harmon A Christmas Journey by Anne Perry...
Read More

100+ Reading Challenge Wrap-up

by Carol9 Comments
I met my goal for this challenge. Below is the list of books I read, most of  which have links to my comments. My favorites for the year are listed on my sidebar. The Touchstone by Edith Wharton The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz Rion by Susan Kearney 13 1/2 by Nevada Barr 101 Glam Girl Ways to an Ultra Chic Lifestyle by Dawn Del Russo The Groundhog Day Book of Facts and Fun by Wendie Old The Unusual Suspects by Michael Buckley Still Life by Louise Penny The Girl who Spun Gold by Virginia Hamilton The Help by Kathryn Stockett The Inimitable Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse The Bug Scientists by Donna M. Jackson Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep The Problem Child by Michael Buckley (more…)...
Read More