Starlet

says

A. J. G a l l a n t says

DRACULA: Hearts of Stone.
Enter this world of magical vampires. It’s a place where enchantment and biters interweave for an exciting adventure.
It’s a tale of magic, romance and fangs; a tale of valor.
We start with a shiny new pot of boiling water and add too many evil vampires, and not enough of the good biters. Toss in one suicidal Dracula; add a cup of mayhem and a dash of romance. Oh yes, and a pinch of mirth. Stir lovingly and you have a new novel by A. J. Gallant. If it sounds like the recipe for you then you must read Dracula: Hearts of Stone.

OR
Madman in the Mirror is delightfully different.
A very unique and well written book- MADMAN IN THE MIRROR is on a class by itself- and that is a very impressive class at that- A.J. is a master at creating word images that remain with the reader long after the book is finished- the true sign of a great writer!!
Rick Friedman

FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/a-j-gallant.html

posted 3 days ago. ( send a note )

Luke Donovan says

Hi Starlet, I read your post that you liked a book about schizophrenia. I just released my first book, Missing the Big Picture, enclosed is the description and a review. It is on amazon.
Missing the Big Picture is an autobiographical coming of age story about one man’s struggle with mental illness and suicidal thoughts, his eventual college graduation, and his career as a comedian.
Comedian Luke G. Donovan is the product of a single parent home with a mentally ill grandmother. Bullied and abused by classmates and faced with inappropriate and unprofessional faculty members in high school, he finally has a great first year of college, but continues to hear voices and have suicidal thoughts. But through it all he perseveres to earn his degree, work as a registered nurse, and become an award winning stand-up comedy performer. A story as harrowing as it is hopeful, Donovan delivers it all with a humbling dose of self-confidence and humor that is enthralling and inspirational.
For Luke G. Donovan, life in Albany is, as Erma Bombeck famously said, “like a bowl of cherries”—and he is indeed in the pits. After being a product of an estranged household, and finding his home life stigmatizing in his Catholic military high school, he is the recipient of bullying from classmates and inappropriate and unprofessional faculty members. Ultimately he transfers to a public school, but only continues to have difficulty relating to classmates. A people pleaser by nature, he is consistently taken advantage of, picked on, and unhappy with whom he is and how he looks.
From the age of eighteen through his graduation from college, Donovan hears voices in his mind, voices that lead to thoughts of suicide. Through perseverance and courage, however, he is able to emerge from these trying times as a registered nurse. And as he continues to grow as a person, he begins to understand what he calls the big picture: self-confidence, compassion for others, and a positive, realistic attitude. And instead of letting anger at his treatment consume him, he uses it to help heal himself and others with laughter.
Shining light on a litany of taboo subjects, Donovan illuminates the profound truth that relationships, friendships, peer pressure, and body image are not gender issues—rather they are human issues. A powerful, inspirational coming of age journey, Missing the Big Picture shatters stereotypes as it teaches tolerance and acceptance.
Here is a review:
Missing The Big Picture is an excellent autobiography that everyone can relate to in many different ways. The bullying and mental illness struggles depicted here so well effect so many in our society. Honest, clearly written, and a realistic portrayal of a young person's life to his adult journey. I could not place this book down and found it to be so interesting, phenomenal, dynamic, and fascinating. The message that the author conveys so well is the empathy, compassion, and goodness that is needed in terms of human connections as well as in relationships throughout life. During the difficult times in life, Luke Donovan demonstrates to us that there is light, humanity, and goodness within us and in people as well. This extraordinarily written autobiography should not be missed and I recommend it highly! A positive as well as strong message of insight, vision, and hope for the future related to all ages is stated so well throughout the pages of this remarkable autobiography.

posted 1 month ago. ( send a note )

Fiona R says

Hi Starlet,
Thanks so much for all your efforts :) I always think of you when I'm looking for more Holocaust books cos you've read so many good ones. I've been reading a lot of YA and picture books lately cos that's what I'm working on and I've always loved YA novels :)
I've read a few thrillers/crime and the titles that stand out lately are Ian Rankin's Witch Hunt (written under another name?) and Lightning by Dean Koontz. Not books I read a lot of but really enjoyed these two. I'm open to trying most things but not keen on sci-fi or fantasy, plus I'm not very patient and give a book just a chapter to hijack my life as a rule!!!
I did start A Stolen Life but found it a bit boring to be honest. That's not to say her STORY was boring at all - just that the style wasn't my cup of tea. I didn't finish it :( Did you read it?
I've been renting audios free from the library but have listened to most of the ones I wanted. I buy the odd one on itunes but it's so expensive and I don't have a lot of cash :(
Where do you rent/buy your audio books?
Thanks again for the titles - I'll see what I can find.
Cheers,
F :)

posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )

Fiona R says

Hi Starlet, Long time no see! Do you still read Holocaust books? Any memorable ones lately?
F :)

posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )

SueReads says

I did like It, however I think Stephen King has a lot of other books I would recommend first, The Stand and Misery being first as 'typical' King books. I also highly recommend his new one 11/22/63 it's Stephen King meets historical fiction. Also his Dark Tower series is excellent but not typical King.

posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )

Karen R says

hi i have added a new discussion to audiobooks to recomend group entittled reviews january/febuary 2012 hope this ok as I havent done it before.

karen

posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )

Randee S says

Hi. Hope you had a good holiday season. I really liked The Paris Wife. I felt that I got a true sense of what Hemingway was like and how he was so unsure of himself in many ways but was equally quite narcissistic. I read Loving Frank at about the same time and was taken by the similarities between these men and the women who loved them. In both cases the women have been written as interestingly as the men.

I am listening to Killed at the Whim of a Hat. It is a novel on the order of Alexander McCall Smith's series. It takes place in Thailand. I am a bit tired of it, but am almost done. I will be looking at your list for some suggestions.

Take care.

Randee

posted 5 months ago. ( send a note )

Randee S says

I also listen to audio books quite a lot. I am going to peruse your list and see what you have read. Thanks.

posted 5 months ago. ( send a note )

BookCat says

Stumbled on your shelf. I am really getting into audio books lately. They make me happy. I think it's because I am not focusing on the traffic. Hope you don't mind if I follow you. I like your reviews. I forgot how much I like "The Handmaid's Tale" until I read your review.

posted 8 months ago. ( send a note )

Jerseygirl / Mrs. Constance (Oodles) Oxford-Whapdoodle, B.C., D.C. says

Welcome to the History Non-Fiction Group. There are a few group rules posted at the top of the group page. Please take a moment to review and if you haven't already done so, introduce yourself in our "Welcome and Introduction" thread and tell us what your interests are. Our group reads are done on a quarterly basis the selected book for the Jul - Sep quarter is: Conquistador: Hernan Cortes, King Montezuma and the Last Stand of the Aztecs by Buddy Levy. We hope you'll join us for the group read. Again, welcome to the group.
Jan (Group Admin)

posted 9 months ago. ( send a note )

Judy S says

So glad to see you've read Nothing to Envy. What a book! Just unbelievable. I'm so glad I read it and wish more people would. My father fought in this war and got all the way up to the Yalu River so he spent time in North Korea. The weather was bitterly cold and they were still in summer uniforms. (He was also in the Pacific in WWII)

posted 10 months ago. ( send a note )

Judy S says

I was checking reviews of In the Garden of Beasts and came across yours. Decided to check your shelf and we have many of the same books. I'd like to "follow" you if okay. Thanks, Judy

posted 10 months ago. ( send a note )

Fiona R says

Hi Starlet,
I read Room as well, but often forgot I was reading fiction. I have 2 boys aged 11 and 15 and I can't imagine them growing up like that, so maybe that's why it seemed so real to me. I'm looking forward to A Stolen Life now - thanks for the feedback - though I'm reading the YA Hunger Games series at the moment. The first book was a new favourite, but the 2nd one feels very lazy to me, as in there's nothing new, and I'm past halfway. That sounds even to me like very harsh criticism, but the author seems to have just found a way into the story (which was slow, btw) just to facilitate a rehash of the original idea. I hope the third book is better!
Another book I want to read is similar to Jaycee's story - about Austrian Natascha Kampusch, who was held in a cellar for 8 years. Sadly, there are so many of these stories (TRUE stories) and another that springs to mind is Elisabeth Fritzl, who was imprisoned in the family bomb shelter/cellar for 24 years, and had 7 children by her father - simply horrific.
I saw Nothing to Envy on your shelf and thought it looked interesting. another I have lined up is The Hypnotist, which has received glowing reviews.
Happy reading!
F :)

posted 10 months ago. ( send a note )

Fiona R says

Hi Starlet,
How are you finding A Stolen Life? I bought it when I was away for my son's skating competitions but haven't started it yet. Would love to hear your thoughts when you finish it....but no spoilers please!
Hope all is well with you. Any WW2 books you'd recommend lately?
F :)

posted 10 months ago. ( send a note )

koren56 says

Thanks for the friend request and the nice note. You also have an interesting shelf.

posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

Pepi says

Hi
The libraries use a vendor called Overdrive. You are correct in that it initially did not include Apple products. But now there are tons of books available for iPhones. they have also recently added epub books. They can only be checked out for two weeks and can be downloaded to Apple products.

posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

Pepi says

Glad to accept the invite. Have you looked into downloading books from the library onto an mp3 player? I do agree with you that we can read a whole lot more books by combining listening and reading. I love JD Robb's "In Death" series on audio.

posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

The Ancient One says

You are lovable. You are worthy of love, of being loved. You are a valuable member of the family of human beings that lives on this planet right now, and you can help to make the world a better place by showing your love, to yourself and to others. Your small acts of love can help to make people feel safe, consoled, helped, cared for and about. Love grows as it is spread, and your acts of love today will be multiplied into many acts more tomorrow. Ask yourself always, "Am I contributing to the love on this planet?", and act accordingly. The love that you are will become a very special part of who you are, and what other people who come in contact with you feel about life.

Tom Walsh

posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

Fiona R says

Hi Starlet,
I found the Holocaust Literature group - thank you - and I have joined it. I found some interesting titles mentioned there, too, which I'll go hunting for.
Fiona :)

posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

tatertot says

I hope you enjoy it! I really enjoyed Ron Silver as a narrator and the book itself was great.

posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )