Mary Ellen M

Random books from my shelf

Public Notes

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

  Hello Mary Ellen M,
  
  I hope that the season finds you warm and reading. It is so COLD outside. Hoping for a mild winter but Mother Nature has a mind of her own and often carries a big stick.
  
  Dracula: Hearts of Stone (Dracula is a good guy)
  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. Stir in some red sheriffs. Oh yes, and a pinch of mirth. Stir lovingly and you have a novel by A. J. Gallant. If it sounds like the recipe for you then you must read Dracula: Hearts of Stone.
  
  Please check out my author page for excerpts:
  
  http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/a-j-gallant.html
  
  Unrealistic or not my writing gives me hope. But with something like 50 000 books published a month it is a little discouraging. I can just picture my book underneath that pile being crushed. I didn’t think there were that many writers.

  Posted 5 months ago. ( send a note )

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  Diana L says

  So glad you enjoyed THE POWER OF ONE! It's one I reread often.

  Posted 6 months ago. ( send a note )

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  Barbara M says

  Did you notice that I just finished and reviewed Saving CeeCee Hunicutt? I had made a note that you were the one to recommend it to me and I have to say thanks! I really enjoyed it. In fact, I handed it off to Mom to read next (it's the LP ed.) before we return it to the library. Lovely story.

  Posted 9 months ago. ( send a note )

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  Barbara M says

  I just finished "Shadow of the Wind" and it will be among my all-time favorites; right up there with "The Power of One." Sorry we didn't make it to the book club this week. I had the opportunity to go with the ladies to Mount Dora to see a re-enactor do Betsy Ross on Flag Day. What a treat!

  Posted 11 months ago. ( send a note )

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  Barbara M says

  I can see why you would feel anxiety with "Room." I'm currently reading "Shadow of the Wind" and the writing is amazing! I highly recommend it. It will probably be a favorite for this year.

  Posted 11 months ago. ( send a note )

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  Barbara M says

  I enjoyed The Hunger Games - think I did that one on audio. In fact, I stuck it out for the whole series. I usually have one audio and one print that I'm doing at the same time. Like you, I love having more time to read/listen. I'd currently reading Shadow of the Wind and loving it. I'm listening to Room and it is like what I imagine Jaycee Dugard went through from what I read of A Stolen Life. More from the point of view of the child that is also imprisoned. Room is the audio in this case and there are three voices, the child, the mother and, occasionally, the kidnapper.

  Posted 12 months ago. ( send a note )

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  Barbara M says

  Ha! You are so funny! I've gone back and forth about reading that book. Not sure I want to so you'll have to let me know if it's worth it. I just started Shadow of the Wind and it is very good right from the start. Tiny print though and not available in LP. See, if I had a Nook and wanted to buy a book instead of getting at the library, I could increase the print size. I'm actually surprised that it's not really bothering me, I just like the LP better.

  Posted 12 months ago. ( send a note )

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  Barbara M says

  I see you like City of Thieves. I'm so glad I recommended it to you, I thought it was great.

  Posted 12 months ago. ( send a note )

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  Barbara M says

  Check with Barnes & Noble on-line too. I found their price for Tandia (the sequel) was cheaper.

  Posted 12 months ago. ( send a note )

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  Barbara M says

  So glad you got it right away. I loved that book! I found out that there is a sequel but his books aren't available much in the US. It was available at Amazon for big bucks but I found a copy at B&N.com for a more reasonable price. Unfortunately, it is in very small print in a paperback. I should be able to handle it but it is quite thick. I'll share it with you when I'm done if you'd like but I have a few others to finish first.

  Posted 12 months ago. ( send a note )

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  Barbara M says

  Some people should definitely NOT do the presentation! That's so funny, I'd feel awful if people fell asleep on me! I'm behind on my reading this year too. You can go in and change your goals and that would fix things :-) I guess I haven't read as much as last year either. I'm reading good stuff though. Mom and I didn't make it to the club because my brother and sister-in-law were visiting from New Hampshire. They usually took the golf cart and tooted around The Villages. Basically, when they left, we just relaxed and did our thing.

  Posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

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  Barbara M says

  Did you see my most recent favorite? Did I send it to you as a recommendation? If I didn't, shame on me! I loved The Power of One by Bryce Cournenay and I think you would too.

  Posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

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  Barbara M says

  Doing great here. I'll tell Mom about LP but I wouldn't be surprised if she already knew. My bowling team was the last one out of the lanes so I didn't get to go to lunch but that was OK because I also wanted to attend the authors at Lady Lake. Claudia (president) and Ms Challinor didn't get there until half way through the second author - Charles Todd. That's actually a mother and son team and they were just great. The timing for the lunch was just terrible in that it meant you missed some of the other events. Can't do it all! I should be there next month - see you then!

  Posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )

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  Barbara M says

  Missed you at Book Club today. Is everything OK? I thought I might see you at the Festival of Reading this month too.

  Posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )