The Monkey and the Camel by Aesop

by Carol6 Comments
"The Monkey and the Camel" by Aesop I had never heard of this fable before, but with hundreds of fables attributed to Aesop it's really no surprise. Here's the story, from Litscape.com: The beasts of the forest gave a splendid entertainment, at which the Monkey stood up and danced. Having vastly delighted the assembly, he sat down amidst universal applause. The Camel, envious of the praises bestowed on the Monkey and desirous to divert to himself the favor of the guests, proposed to stand up in his turn, and dance for their amusement. He moved about in so very ridiculous a manner, that the Beasts, in a fit of indignation, set upon him with clubs, and drove him out of the assembly. Moral: It is absurd to ape our betters. We've all at some time or other wished we had talents or abilities that we don't. Poor Camel took it a step further, actually trying to dance like monkey, in front of a large, distinguished audience...
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Shadow Blade by Seressia Glass

by Carol4 Comments
Shadow Blade by Seressia Glass When I first started reading this one, I thought it was awfully similar to other urban fantasy out there right now. There's the strong, brave, independent heroine, Kira, whose father figure/ handler is killed and she wants revenge. Enter the male lead who she's attracted to but doesn't at first want to work with. There are a couple of catches though that set it apart. Kira is a Shadowchaser, working on the side of Light fighting the Shadow, evil and chaos and the man, Khefar, is a 4,000 year old Nubian warrior whose dagger happens to fall into Kira's hands. What really makes the book stand out for me though, is the incorporation of Egyptian mythology. [Kira's] eyes closed as she held her prayers in her heart waiting. She never doubted her patron deity; enforcing order and justice were her life, and she lived the principle of Ma'at every day. Soon enough she felt a brush of warmth,...
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The Vintage Caper by Peter Mayle

by Carol13 Comments
The Vintage Caper by Peter Mayle I think the title of this one is perfect. Vintage refers to the wines that are stolen from a hot-shot Hollywood lawyer. Sam Levitt, a former crook turned PI, is hired by his ex-girlfriend who works for the insurance company to find the bottles. The caper follows the wine's trail from Hollywood to Bordeaux and Marseille in the south of France, where Sam and his French colleague make some questionable decisions, skirting the law a little, but for the right reasons. As a mystery, it doesn't hold up too well. The plot is fairly predictable, no twists or turns to speak of. The clues are more long-shot guesses that turn out helpful. As a fun romp though, it's thoroughly enjoyable. And the sumptuous wines, delicious meals and gorgeous scenery are what truly carry the book. It really is a book for wine-lovers, not necessarily mystery-lovers. And the characters are delightful to spend some time with. I actually listened...
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“A little paranoia”

by Carol3 Comments
She'd added a few ready-made protective charms and safeties before locking it into an iron casket and hiding it in a safe behind a tromp l'oeil facade in her lead-lined basement office. Nothing wrong with a little paranoia. (pg. 21, Shadow Blade by Seressia Glass) Quotes about paranoia always make me laugh. My husband can be slightly paranoid at times, but as he points out, it's not paranoia if they really are out to get you. In his case they're not, but in the quote above, Kira definitely has reason for her concern. Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Play along. I cheated a little this week by not making it random, but the rules are easy. Grab your current read, open to a random page, and give us two teaser sentences. Remember, no spoilers. My copy was sent to me by the publisher and the above is my honest opinion. I am an...
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Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

by Carol12 Comments
We saw Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief on Saturday. Let me say from the start that I haven't read the book. My daughter Amber(10) has the whole series and loves them though, so hopefully I'll get around to it eventually. The movie was fun. Percy is a Manhattan high-schooler who learns he is a demigod. He's the son of Poseidon and a mortal woman. This revelation comes out after Zeus wrongly blames Percy for stealing his lightning bolt and threatens a war with Poseidon that will finish humanity. Percy's mother is kidnapped by Hades, brother of Zeus and Poseidon who also wants the power the lightning bolt would provide. Joined by a satyr and the butt-kicking, demigod daughter of Athena, Percy sets off on a quest to save his mom. There are several stops along the road, including Medusa's lair and the Lotus Hotel and Casino in Vegas. There are monsters to fight and gods...
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Chicxulub by T. Coraghessan Boyle

by Carol5 Comments
"Chicxulub" by T. Coraghessan Boyle I had no idea what "Chicxulub" referred to before reading this short story. As I learned, a six-mile-wide asteroid or comet slammed into the Yucatan Peninsula 65 million years ago, contributing to the dinosaurs' extinction and forming what is now known as the Chicxulub crater. In this amazing story, Boyle's narrator alternated between musing about meteors and describing a disaster that is occurring in the life of his family. This structure is really what made the story stand out for me. The thing that disturbs me about Chicxulub, aside from the fact that it erased the dinosaurs and wrought catastrophic and irreversible change, is the deeper implication that we, and all our works and worries and attachments, are so utterly inconsequential. The story begins with the narrator's daughter walking down a highway alone at night in the rain. Between the situation and the father's digressions on life-ending meteor impacts, the reader expects the worst. But...
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