June is Audiobook Month #JIAM2012

Happy June!    I hope May was good you all of you.  It certainly was for me.

Did you know what June is Audiobook Month?  I didn’t.  Thank you,  GoodReads, for informing me about this.  I love audiobooks.  I think it is a good option for getting your reading done when you cannot physically crack open a book.  Some of us go to school and/or go to work and at the end of the day, we’re just too tired to do much else.  I can certainly relate to that.  Before getting a job, I had all day to read.  But now, my reading time is reduced to hour-long train rides.  No bueno.

But I am fortunate to have a job that allows me to plug on my earphones and zone out the rest of the office.  Thank goodness for Spotify and Talking Classics for being readily available for free online.  (Also, I have been enjoying the Twilight Zone Radio Dramas through Spotify.)  I can always load up an audiobook on my iPod/iPad/nook if I can’t find it online.  I found that whenever I listen to an audiobook at work, time seems to fly by faster.

Over the years, I have accumulated a fair share of audiobooks, both CD copies and mp3 files.  Like a true collector, I have both Generation Kill and One Bullet Away on audio.  OBA is narrated by its author, Nathaniel Fick, which makes it so much more awesome that the book already is.  Patrick Lawlor reads GK and it is probably the most listening fun I’ve had.  Other titles in my collection are Room by Emma Donoghue, The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris, and The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner read by Tom Hiddleston.

There are so many places to get audiobooks.  Bookstores have a special rack for them.  I got my OBA CD set on eBay.  And of course, the Internet.  Ever since the popularity of iTunes and portable mp3 players, authors have released audio versions of their books alongside hard and digital copies.  Some are read by the authors themselves, some read by actors, and there are also books read by a whole cast of characters.  It is so interesting to hear how the words are acted out.

If you have not tried an audiobook, now is a good time to start.  There are many places to get free audiobooks, especially for classics.  I’ve already mentioned Talking Classics on Spotify.  Here are some other sources:

• Books Should Be Free
• Librivox
• Thought Audio
• … and of course, Google is your friend.

So, have you heard any good books lately?

Quotes: Christopher Morley

“There is no mistaking a real book when one meets it. It is like falling in love.”

—-

QUESTION:

What book have you judged by the cover? What book did you pick up because of the cover and totally fell in love with after reading it?

Why not try a book?

If there are e-reader snobs, there are also book snobs.  Yes, I’ve encountered a couple of people who think buying and reading physical books is no longer relevant.  I proudly stand in the middle.  I love my books and my e-readers.

I still want physical copies of my favorite books, the beautifully illustrated editions, and of course, the literary classics that never go out of style.  At the same time, digital copies lessen my “regret” if the book I was reading turned out to be crappy or not to my liking.  There are pros and cons but it all boils down to what the reader prefers.

How about you?  How do you like your literature? 

Happy Banned Books Week!

Banned Books Week, 24 September to 1 October 2011.

How many banned books have you read?

I find it interesting that people feel a stronger urge to read a banned book over a regular off-the-shelf title.  It’s the little rule-breaker in all of us, I guess.  And of course, the curiosity — why was this book banned?  I’ve read many lists and some of the reasons surprise me.  They range from being culturally and/or religiously “backwards” to really graphic images of violence and sexual behaviors.  Even children’s books aren’t safe from inclusion to the list.

The American Library Association provides a list of banned books over the years.  Even at this day and age, more titles are being added.  One of my friends commented that being in these lists is good publicity for books.  Notice that a lot of these titles are popular whether they’re banned or not.  I personally love the challenge of reading banned books.  Sometimes, I read a title then find out later that it is banned and the reason why.  Nevertheless, it was a good read.

So, referring to the 2010-2011 list, how many banned books have you read?

• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
• Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (which I do NOT like)
• Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
• Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
• Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
• Snow Falling on the Cedars by David Guterson (but I didn’t finish)

How about I challenge myself next month or next year:  Read a banned book once a month.

National Read A Book Day!

Today, September 6th, is National Read a Book Day!

• What are you reading?
• Where do you read?
• How many books have you read this past week?
• Why do you read?

Read a book today because:

• You want to go on vacation but Middle-Earth is too far away.
• Once again, the Owl got lost and you didn’t receive your Hogwarts acceptance letter.
• You don’t see your floor anymore because of all the TBR books that could not fit your already overflowing bookshelf.
• You’re too lazy to wait until sundown to go to Fangtasia.
• You have book reviews due in the coming days.
• The library has better air conditioning, wifi, and book collection than your house.
• There is a movie you want to see but you want to read the book first.
• You want to fall in love again so you reread Jane Eyre.
• You miss your best pal, Ray-ray.

Whatever your reason, today is as good as any day to start reading!

Post #100: Once upon a time… What is the first line of your favorite book?

There was no possibility of taking a walk that day.

If you don’t know where that line is from, you don’t know me well enough. 

Yes, my favorite book in the whole entire universe is Jane Eyre. An Autobiography by Currer Bell.  Charlotte Brontë.  Why?  Because every time I read this masterpiece, I fall in love with it all over again.

I love how Jane is a no nonsense type of woman.  She knows what she’s capable of and does not complain over the things she does not have.  And I also love – actually, it’s what I love the most about this – Edward Fairfax Rochester.  Some say he was cruel to Jane.  I didn’t think so.  You want cruel, call upon Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.  LMAO.  If you ask me, Rochester just didn’t know how to handle someone like Jane.  It’s like when we’re kids… there’s a boy teasing you, pushing you to the sand to get your attention because he likes you (but hates cooties more than he likes you).  It was so clear that he loved Jane from the moment they were properly introduced.  Frankly, it was Jane’s attraction that wasn’t clear until she said it herself.

I encourage EVERYONE to read this beauty at least once in their life.  It’s a bit to go through but you won’t regret it.

PS: Thank you for supporting my little book blog.  Here’s to 100 more!

Discussion: The Orchard

SPOILER ZONE!!!

Read my review here.

1. Do you think it was brave or just plain stupid for Grace to climb the big merbau tree in the rainforest in order capture the orchid fragrance? Have you ever done anything with a determination like that?

I think it was brave of her.  If you want something, you better work for it.  Grace was so close to getting what she wanted and just went for it.  Hm, nothing like climbing a tree at some remote part of the forest but I’ve worked for the stuff I have now.  I’ve done many stupid, embarrassing, difficult things to achieve something and the journey to that goal makes it all worth it.

2. Dylan is convinced that he sees his dead wife in the elevator of the Peachtree Plaza Hotel. Have you ever thought you’ve seen someone from your past across a crowded space? What did you do? Where you right?

The mind plays tricks.  Think about somebody hard enough and you’ll start seeing them in front of your eyes.  Yes, I’ve had that happen to me and upon second look, it turned out that it wasn’t someone I know.

3. Did you know that companies like Southern Compounds and International Fragrance & Flavors exist? Do you think it detracts from your favorite foods to know about all the corporate research and development that goes into making them appealing to you?

Yes, I watch the Food Network.  Haha!  Flavors and fragrances are big business.  I really don’t care what goes in my food, to be honest, as long as it tastes good.  In fact, I appreciate food more knowing the effort put into it.

4. Have you ever eaten something that is so good you can’t stop thinking about it? Ever been haunted by a particular taste, the way Grace was when she bit into that apple?

Yes, the taste and texture of the Red Velvet cupcake from Crumbs.  The best damn cupcake ever.  Also, the spaghetti and meat sauce from Andre’s at The Grove LA.  I don’t think “haunted” is the best word to describe it.  More like… I craved them more often than other foods.

5. Though Monic is a scientist, she rejects Chaos Theory and firmly believes that there is an order to things, particularly when it comes to love. Where do you stand?

Chaos Theory happens to be my favorite scientific theory, as nerdy as it sounds.  It is my username in many a social network.  See, because one is a scientist, it doesn’t mean she can’t subscribe to the paranormal.  What you’re taught and what you (can) believe in can be two different things.  With that said, I believe that everything has a cause and effect.  We are the masters of our fate/destiny and we’ll get nowhere if we don’t do anything.  What we do today affects what happens tomorrow.

6. Do you seek out organic foods? Do you believe, like Rebecca Jane did, that there’s something spiritual about organic farming?

Not really.  Like I said above, I don’t really care as long as I’m fed.  Haha!  And I’m not a gardener so I don’t know.  I never grew anything in my life apart from the science experiments in school.  Organic is nice and all but it is more expensive than your regular supermarket produce.

7. When Grace carries the basket of eggs back from the henhouse on her first morning at the farm she sees the tombstones for Dylan’s family members, but she does not see one for his wife. Why do you think Rebecca Jane was not buried with the rest of the family?

I honestly have no clue.  The orchard was her life and it would make sense if she were to be buried there.  This was one of the few things that I didn’t get.

8. Dylan is convinced that he can feel his wife in the Orchard, particularly just before harvest. Do you believe in ghosts?

I… do.  I’ve had experiences with ghosts and I can’t really explain them.  I think Dylan is not necessarily talking about ghosts.  Instead, he just feels that she’s right there or looking down on them with her blessing.

Discussion: Poison: A Novel of the Renaissance (The Poisoner Mysteries #1) by Sara Poole

SPOILER ZONE!!!

Read my review here.

1. Francesca Giordano lives at a time when civilization is being revitalized by new perceptions and ideas that threaten the existing power structure. How does the struggle between the two shape this story and the challenges that Francesca faces?

Francesca is part of that “new perception/idea”.  She is a woman in a man’s world.  She is the Borgia’s poisoner and was even sneaked in to the conclave in order to keep Il Cardinale safe.  In a way, Borgia is a force behind that change.  He has a goal and is willing to do anything – ANYTHING – to get it.  In a way, Francesca’s association with Borgia makes her life easier.

2. Over the course of this story, Francesca kills at least twice and possibly three times. Can her actions be justified morally?

Is there an excuse – apart from self-defense – to take another life?  Personally, I don’t think there is any.  Some cultures accept the killing of one person out of revenge.  Eye for an eye.  I’ve heard it said that it is not a sin to kill if you don’t enjoy it.  But what if you don’t feel anything when you do it?  No remorse, no fear, no nothing.  First time she kills, it was because she needed that person to be out of the way.  It is for personal gain.  Second time, out of revenge for the death of her father.  And if we assume that she did kill Pope Innocent, well, that’s because Borgia told her to, albeit indirectly.  So… no, it cannot be justified.

3. While she yearns for the glassmaker, Rocco and the life she could have had with him, Francesca does not hesitate to pursue a relationship with Cesare Borgia that is sexual and more. Is she hypocritical in having feelings for both men or is she drawn to each for different reasons?

Have you seen Cesare Borgia?  I mean, really?  Who wouldn’t?  =D

I kid, I kid.  I believe she is attracted to both men for different reasons.  She is attracted to Cesare because he was an attractive, powerful, smart, virile man.  Being in his favor had its benefits.  Francesca is attracted to him physically and Cesare’s charm and charisma made it hard for her to say no.  The secrecy made it exciting for her and Cesare.  On the other hand, she is attracted to Rocco because he has stability.  He has established himself, as a profitable business, and most of all, he has a son.  He can provide for his family.  Rocco is simple, an opposite of Cesare.

4. Francesca has a complex relationship with her employer, Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia. How much do you think the Cardinal knows about Francesca’s past? What role may he have played in the murder of her father?

From what I’ve read abut Rodrigo Borgia, he was a cunning and very intelligent man.  Every step he took, every word he uttered was a step closer to realizing one of his many goals.  Up to the point that he abuses his power and misuses the very Scripture that he was sworn to abide by.  I think Borgia knows full well about Francesca’s past but speaks none of it because he saw how useful she could be in the greater scheme of things.  And Francesca had proven herself trustworthy and reliable.  As for her father’s murder, it is possible that he knew details of it but I don’t think it was his word that put the pieces in motion.

5. In modern terms, Francesca suffers from post-traumatic shock related to an event early in her life. In a time before psychoanalysis, she can understand her condition only as the act of a supernatural agent, either God or the Devil. What factors in her life may prompt her to look elsewhere for the true cause of her distress as well as the path to resolving it?

Every time she talks about what is eating her inside, I think it is her conscience talking.  Having been raised a God-fearing Catholic, in the House of Borgia where the head of the house was a Cardinal, I think she lived by the teaching of the Holy Word.  She believed that if she did wrong, she would be punished for it.  And that’s a normal thing to think about.

What can change her perception of that is Borgia himself.  I mean, he kept on doing these “bad things”, directly or indirectly, but it didn’t seem like he was punished for it.  Was Borgia a bad man because he did these things?  If so, is Francesca a bad person for killing?  Is it the Devil telling her to do these bad things and she’s merely succumbing to temptation?  It is her guilt talking and to me, the fact that she lets her guilt take over her tells me that she is still a good person.

6. The discovery that her late father was a “converse,” a convert from Judaism to Christianity, shocks Francesca and makes her question what else he concealed from her. But it also opens her to new perspectives and relationships. Is the uncovering of hidden truths always beneficial or are there times when secrets should remain unspoken?

I believe that the truth will set you free.  “You” meaning both the secret keeper and the one kept in the dark.  One might have questions about their lives and who they are and the TRUTH is the only answer to that.  Finding out that her father was a conversi made it easier for her to connect with the Jewish community that helped her hugely in her cause.  She related better to their situation thus drove her desire to help them.  Truths aren’t always what we want to hear but at the end of the day, we need to hear them.

Discussion: The Art of Saying Goodbye: A Novel by Ellyn Bache

SPOILER ZONE!!!

Read my review here.

1. In many ways, Paisley is the star of the suburban development where she lives — the pretty one who’s nice to everyone, who gives the best parties, who seems to enjoy raising her daughters and living her conventional life.  In what ways does her “stardom” inspire varying emotions in her neighbors?  Overall, how do they regard her before she gets sick?  How does this affect the way they feel after they learn she’s ill?

Considering that the story revolves around her, Paisley really is the star of the neighborhood.  If this were in high school, she’s the Queen Bee of the popular crowd.  Throughout the book, she was described in a very positive light – living what looks like a perfect life.  And I think Paisley was aware of how people see her.  And she uses this to inspire, to lift people up.  As if saying, “Hey look, I’m happy.  You can be too.  And I’ll show you how,” just like those smiling salespeople on TV.  Up to her last moments, she never showed people that there was a weak side of her.  The one time she did that, she got carried away.  To others, Paisley doing “something wrong” is unbecoming.  But having said that she’s a popular girl, of course there are those who envy her, such as Ginger.  But even so, Ginger’s jealously stems from admiration.  When Paisley fell ill, nobody in the neighborhood could believe it.  The strong and happy Paisley?  Sick?  Dying?  No!  To me, it sends a message with the effect of “It can happen to anyone”.

2. Julianne is horrified by what she sees as her dark “gift” of diagnosis.  Her ex-husband thinks it has a more traditional explanation.  Which one do you agree with?  Why?

To be honest, I am unclear whether I believe in the “paranormal” or not.  Do I believe in ghosts?  Yes, but I cannot tell you why.  Do I believe in faith healing?  No, and I do not have an explanation why I think it is a bunch of BS.  Julianne’s “ability”, let us call it that, could be something psychological.  One of those things that people say, “Oh you just know“.  ESP?  I really cannot tell.  After all, this is a work of fiction, Julianne is a fictional character.  If there is someone out there in real life like her, hey.  I would like to believe there’s another, a higher, power out there.

3. Although Paisley’s illness causes her neighbors to experience a wide range of emotions — everything from disbelief to sadness — at times some of them feel less than sympathetic.  Which ones struggle with this the most?  In what ways do their feelings rise directly from Paisley’s situation, and in what ways do they rise from their own, personal issues?

I feel that people rationalize things that happen to and/or around them.  They need something to blame.  As a defense mechanism to distance themselves from the situation.  Some of the women introduced the idea what Paisley’s excessive drinking may have caused the damage to her liver.  Maybe, maybe not.  That idea never was further discussed and remained just one of the many “causes” of Paisley’s illness.  I think the one who struggled the most was Julianne.  After all, she was the one who “discovered” the cancer.  I could imagine a million “what-ifs” going through her head… what if I touched her sooner, what if I wasn’t there that day to check on her.  I know some would say Andrea would struggle the most, with her daughter’s past with cancer, but I don’t think so.  Sure, she can relate but compared to Julianne, Andrea sort of knows how to deal with this sickness already.

If not weren’t for Paisley, I don’t think Julianne would have paid closer attention to her “ability”.  It happened once before but to a person she has no personal connection to.  Iona feels a connection not to Paisley per se but to the situation.  Even to Paisley’s husband, Mason.  Iona lost her husband and she knows that loss.  It made her reflect on her life at the present.