Monday, June 19, 2006
Mayada - Daughter of Iraq - Jean Sasson
I bought this book at Wal mart because it looked interesting and found I could not put it down. It's really a book about living in Iraq under Saddam Hussein and prison and torture. It made me understand why Bush went into Iraq and got rid of Hussein....even if I wish we were out, and American lives weren't taken.
I intend to read more books like this.
I intend to read more books like this.
The Death Collectors by Jack Kerley
My husband read it and said I'd like it. He was right.
More than 30 yeqars ago, artist and serial killer Marsden Hexcamp was shot to death in an Alabama courtoom by a deranged fan. But during his trial, evidence from his crimes vanished from the police station.
Today, a prostitute's body found in a candlelit motel room is the first in a series of shocking discoveries that bring detectives into the lives of Death Collectors.
Quite interesting, I might say.
More than 30 yeqars ago, artist and serial killer Marsden Hexcamp was shot to death in an Alabama courtoom by a deranged fan. But during his trial, evidence from his crimes vanished from the police station.
Today, a prostitute's body found in a candlelit motel room is the first in a series of shocking discoveries that bring detectives into the lives of Death Collectors.
Quite interesting, I might say.
The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. "Be careful what you wish for. I know that for a fact. Wishes... burn your tongue the moment they're spoken and you can never take them back." Thus begins Hoffman's (Practical Magic; Here on Earth) stellar 18th novel about healing and transformation. As an eight-year-old, the unnamed narrator makes a terrible wish that comes true; remorseful for the next 30 years, she shuts down emotionally to become a self-proclaimed ice queen. Unlike her brother, Ned, who relies on logic, math and science to make sense of the world, the loner librarian fears the chaotic randomness of existence and is obsessed by death. Then lightning strikes, literally. In a flash, she's jolted out of her rut, noticing for the first time all that she's been taking for granted—even the color red, which after the strike she can no longer see: "How could I have been so stupid to ignore everything I'd had in my life? The color red alone was worth kingdoms." The novel turns sultry when the slowly melting ice queen seeks out reclusive Lazarus Jones, a fellow lightning survivor who came back to life after 40 minutes of death: "I wanted a man like that, one it was impossible to kill, who wouldn't flinch if you wished him dead." Blanketed in prose that has never been dreamier and gloriously vivid imagery, this life-affirming fable is ripe with Hoffman's trademark symbolism and magic, but with a steelier edge: "Every fairy tale had a bloody lining. Every one had teeth and claws."
Starred Review. "Be careful what you wish for. I know that for a fact. Wishes... burn your tongue the moment they're spoken and you can never take them back." Thus begins Hoffman's (Practical Magic; Here on Earth) stellar 18th novel about healing and transformation. As an eight-year-old, the unnamed narrator makes a terrible wish that comes true; remorseful for the next 30 years, she shuts down emotionally to become a self-proclaimed ice queen. Unlike her brother, Ned, who relies on logic, math and science to make sense of the world, the loner librarian fears the chaotic randomness of existence and is obsessed by death. Then lightning strikes, literally. In a flash, she's jolted out of her rut, noticing for the first time all that she's been taking for granted—even the color red, which after the strike she can no longer see: "How could I have been so stupid to ignore everything I'd had in my life? The color red alone was worth kingdoms." The novel turns sultry when the slowly melting ice queen seeks out reclusive Lazarus Jones, a fellow lightning survivor who came back to life after 40 minutes of death: "I wanted a man like that, one it was impossible to kill, who wouldn't flinch if you wished him dead." Blanketed in prose that has never been dreamier and gloriously vivid imagery, this life-affirming fable is ripe with Hoffman's trademark symbolism and magic, but with a steelier edge: "Every fairy tale had a bloody lining. Every one had teeth and claws."
Burned Alive by Souad
I liked the book, but it's so sad
From Amazon:
When she was 18, her brother-in-law poured gasoline on her and set her aflame. She was meant to die because she was pregnant and unmarried, bringing disgrace to her parents. But she survived, and now, 25 years later, "Souad" bears witness to the horror of "honor crimes" that kill thousands of women every year in many countries across the world. She begins with a bitter account of what it was like to grow up female in a remote Palestinian village in the Occupied Territory. "Being born a girl was a curse." Unlike her brother, she never went to school. Her father beat her daily. She worked as a shepherd, a "consenting slave." She barely glimpsed the city, where women were free to work and move around. Her rescuer was Jacqueline, a European aid worker, who was in the Middle East to care for children in distress and who arranged for the badly burned young woman to be flown to Switzerland, where she and her newborn baby received medical care and support. Today Souad is "somewhere in Europe," married with three children, her testimony still anonymous for her protection. Occasional chapters by Jacqueline fill in the wider context, but it's the immediacy of the shocking first-person narrative that drives home the statistics. Like Mende Nazer's Slave [BKL D 1 03], this book is a call to action. Hazel Rochman
From Amazon:
When she was 18, her brother-in-law poured gasoline on her and set her aflame. She was meant to die because she was pregnant and unmarried, bringing disgrace to her parents. But she survived, and now, 25 years later, "Souad" bears witness to the horror of "honor crimes" that kill thousands of women every year in many countries across the world. She begins with a bitter account of what it was like to grow up female in a remote Palestinian village in the Occupied Territory. "Being born a girl was a curse." Unlike her brother, she never went to school. Her father beat her daily. She worked as a shepherd, a "consenting slave." She barely glimpsed the city, where women were free to work and move around. Her rescuer was Jacqueline, a European aid worker, who was in the Middle East to care for children in distress and who arranged for the badly burned young woman to be flown to Switzerland, where she and her newborn baby received medical care and support. Today Souad is "somewhere in Europe," married with three children, her testimony still anonymous for her protection. Occasional chapters by Jacqueline fill in the wider context, but it's the immediacy of the shocking first-person narrative that drives home the statistics. Like Mende Nazer's Slave [BKL D 1 03], this book is a call to action. Hazel Rochman
The City of Falling Angels - by John Berendt
It wasn't as good as Midnight in the Garden of Evil, but defintely worth a read.
It's a book about Venice and really about it's people. I didn't really feel the history as much as I did the attitude of the Italian Vencians. It's pretty political and if you've ever been to Italy, it's quite contradictory.
Interesting at points, but it didn't hold my interest the whole way through.
It's a book about Venice and really about it's people. I didn't really feel the history as much as I did the attitude of the Italian Vencians. It's pretty political and if you've ever been to Italy, it's quite contradictory.
Interesting at points, but it didn't hold my interest the whole way through.
England & Scotland
I absolutely loved reading about Henry VIII and his wives. The author is Jean Plaidy and the books are:
In the Shadow of the Crown
The Lady in the Tower
and
this is about Henry's sister who was the Queen of Scottland:
The Thistle and the Rose.
History written beautifully. I can't get enough of this author and will continue to read her books. There are many in both series
Highly recommended all 3
In the Shadow of the Crown
The Lady in the Tower
and
this is about Henry's sister who was the Queen of Scottland:
The Thistle and the Rose.
History written beautifully. I can't get enough of this author and will continue to read her books. There are many in both series
Highly recommended all 3
2nd Annual Cruise
We had SO MUCH FUN! Jonathan and his friends were a blast! I hope we're invited to vacation with them again. Lisa and I loved Jamaica the most. Such lush, hilly, beautiful scenery.
We had fun in Grand Caymen because we snorkeled for our very first time and loved it! Not too many pictures from there because most were taken underwater with a disposable camera.
Cozumel was fun because we went to Senor Frogs with Thahn and John. Lisa being of age, had a margarita. Crazy people party there!
We loved the Bahamas and Princess Cays is set up so cozy and exotic.
Here are the pictures!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ginaa/
We had fun in Grand Caymen because we snorkeled for our very first time and loved it! Not too many pictures from there because most were taken underwater with a disposable camera.
Cozumel was fun because we went to Senor Frogs with Thahn and John. Lisa being of age, had a margarita. Crazy people party there!
We loved the Bahamas and Princess Cays is set up so cozy and exotic.
Here are the pictures!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ginaa/
