Carol's Notebook – Page 671

Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny

August 27, 2009August 26, 2009 by Carol3 Comments

Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny Exiled to the Shadows for centuries, a man more than mortal awakens in an Earth hospital with no memory of his past and is surrounded by enemies who hunger for his destruction. For Corwin is the rightful successor to the throne of the real world. But to rule, he must conquer impossible realities and demonic assassins . . . and survive the most insidious malevolence imaginable wrought by his own family. My thoughts: This is a fun, quick fantasy. It also features one of the most dysfunctional families I've ever met. Having Corwin wake up with amnesia is an interesting technique. It allows us to learn about his world and family at the same time he does. As he figures out how walking in the Shadows works, so do we. As he tries to figure out who he can trust and who he can't, so do we. Of course, he can't trust anyone. When your siblings can...

C is for Collision

August 26, 2009 by Carol5 Comments

Vicki of Reading At The Beach hosts A-Z Wednesday. Today's letter is C. This one has been sitting on my shelf for a while, just waiting for me to get around to it. Collision of Angels by Michael Carver When Tony Campbell accepts his father-in-law’s invitation to chat, he braces himself for yet another of Silas Jackson’s ambitious business schemes. But even in his wildest imagination, Tony couldn’t have prepared himself for what Silas proposes this time: a run for the United States presidency. In the wake of recent controversial elections, Silas and his colleagues fear America is being run by the few and has turned it’s back on God. Their remedy: attempt to put a man of faith into the White House. This crusade proves to be the ultimate challenge however, and Tony finds himself facing his greatest test of faith ever. What appears to be a battle between church and state in the human realm is gradually revealed to have far higher...

Wondrous Words

August 26, 2009August 26, 2009 by Carol4 Comments

Thanks to Bermudaonion's Weblog for hosting this weekly event. Head over there to play along. My words today are from Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny. macadam- pavement made of layers of compacted broken stone, now usually bound with tar or asphalt. "Now the road was of macadam, but I didn't recognize the place at all." halberd- a shafted weapon with an axlike cutting blade, beak, and apical spike, used esp. in the 15th and 16th centuries. "Then we washed up in the outbuilding, beeped the horn at the gate, and waited till a man with a halberd hanging over his right shoulder came and opened it for us." What new words did you run across this week?...

Teaser Tuesday

August 25, 2009August 25, 2009 by Carol18 Comments

Grab your current read. Let the book fall open to a random page. Share with us two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12. You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from...that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given. Please avoid spoilers! My teaser is a snippet of conversation: "Unless you put the claw marks on the wall, you have nothing to be sorry about." "You can't possibly work in here until we Lysol the whole place." "Either that or an exorcism." -pg. 86, Casting Spells by Barbara Bretton Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Play along....

The Turkey’s Treat by Marie Sanderlin Metroke

August 25, 2009August 25, 2009 by CarolNo Comments

The Turkey's Treat by Marie Sanderlin Metroke, illustrated by Victor Guiza It's four days before Christmas, and young Jeff Watson just wants the perfect holiday - tree, turkey, and snow covering the ground. Mother Nature takes care of the weather, but the Watson family still has a lot to do before the big day. Picking out a turkey is at the top of young Jeff's list. But he never imagined the tasty dish would be one that talks back! Follow Jeff and his delightful family as they find that selecting a Christmas turkey is a lot more difficult when you have to catch it yourself. The uproarious hijinks that follow land Jeff in the emergency room - and bring the family closer together. But when he gets a hold of his feathered friend, Jeff might find the plucky gobbler is just too adorable to put on a plate. Through it all, Jeff discovers the true meaning of Christmas is about more than just...

Hold Tight by Harlan Coben

August 24, 2009August 25, 2009 by Carol5 Comments

Hold Tight by Harlan Coben Tia and Mike Baye never imagined they'd spy on their kids. But their sixteen-year-old son Adam has been unusually distant lately, and after the suicide of his best friend Spencer Hill, they can't help but worry. Within days of installing a sophisticated spy program on Adam's computer, they are jolted by a cryptic message from an unknown correspondent that shakes them to their core "just stay quiet and all safe." As if Mike Baye isn't dealing with enough, he also learns that Lucas Loriman, the sweet kid who grew up next door, is in urgent need of a kidney transplant. As the boy's doctor, Mike suddenly finds himself in possession of an explosive secret that threatens to rip the Loriman family apart at the seams. Nearby, while browsing through an online memorial for Spencer, Betsy Hill discovers a surprising detail about the night of her son's death. Before she can find out more, Adam disappears, taking the truth with...