Classical Clairvoyance

Classical Clairvoyance is where we ask our Tators which books they predict will win for the upcoming poll for our Goodreads book club. For October's poll, our winner is Persuasion so Laura's streak has sadly ended.  Aww.  However, she is tied with Karena on most correct answers! 

Our scores for right guesses so far are as follows: 

Angie -2

Heather - 1

Jared - 1

Jeane - 2

Karena - 3

Laura - 3

November's poll choices are for the category of 1910-1959:

The Magnificent Ambersons, The Black Obelisk, Atlas Shrugged, The Innocence of Father Brown, The Midwich Cuckoos  

Angie

Heather

Jared

Jeane

Karena

Laura

Which novel do think is going to win the poll?

Bookshelf, Library Bag, or Donation Box

In Bookshelf, Library Bag, or Donation Box, our Tators give their verdict on the books they read, whether they're keepers for the shelves, one you borrow from your local library, or just give to your local used bookstore.

Photo credit: Penguin USA

The story begins by following the lives of an unsuspecting man waiting in an airport, Wil Parke, and a young street hustler named Emily Ruff. There's been an incident in the rural Australian town of Broken Hill, where the entire population of thousands have been wiped out. Rumor has it that only one man walked away: the outlier.

At first blush, Lexicon is a novel about the power of words -- the way in which they can be wielded to control people. But not just anyone can use their powers of observation and persuasion this way; only a select few who are admitted into a secret school focused on teaching students to hone their skills through the study of classic literature, psychology, and linguistics even have a chance. They must spend many years of rigorous study, discipline, and constant testing to become masters. The masters of words are called Poets and are named after famous authors like T.S. Eliot, Virginia Woolf, and Emily Brontë. Some work for the school while others work for organizations related to the school but the details of the organization's purpose and true function are unclear.

Lexicon makes for a good summer read. Partly because of the love story, which is the real pulse of the novel, and  the importance of love in our lives -- how it keeps us human. Also, the book is well-paced and most will churn through its 400 pages quickly. There's a nice mix of adventure and introspection that keep the story moving.

With that being said, the novel had a few problems. In Lexicon, words and phrases are means of control and persuasion over others. It was disappointing to discover that these words were just a mishmash of letters -- made up words and phrases. I was expecting something more than that, especially from a book filled with clever nods to classic works and authors. Another factor that made Lexicon a borrow, rather than buy, type of book was that it was difficult to follow, especially in regards to the dialogue in the last third of the book. Often, the dialogue wasn't linear in the typical "person A speaks" then "person B speaks" fashion and made it difficult to distinguish who was saying or thinking what.

If you're looking for a smart, fast-paced summer read with a hint of science fiction, this book is for you. 

Verdict: Library Bag

Learn more about Max Barry and his other books at his website, like him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter. If you're interested in politics and/or international relations, check out NationStates.

*A copy of Max Barry's Lexicon was provided by the publisher via NetGalley.com.

LitStarter: Bringing You the Best in Bookish Projects

Welcome to another installment of LitStarter! This is a regular look at some of my favorite projects I discovered through two popular crowd funding websites: Kickstarter and Indiegogo. The featured projects will be related to literature and comics, but not limited to publishing or writing projects.

In the Country of the Blind: A Novel of Suspense is actor-turned-novelist Matthew Arkin's first attempt at creating the type of novel he's loved his whole life. Arkin is a voracious reader of suspense novels series. The first book in his series, In the Country of the Blind, is finished. You can read a short excerpt of the book here or check out the first five chapters by clicking here. He's asking for money in order to fund manuscript review and editing; custom design for the interior and cover; publishing; and Kickstarter rewards. 

Whenever I visit a Kickstarter page, I try to learn as much about the project as possible. And this includes watching the video. Thus far, it's safe to say I've seen a lot of videos and most of them are terrible. It's always disappointing when I discover a great project only to see that the posted video detracts from the great ideas or work someone is doing. That's not the case here. Arkin's video is funny and engaging -- definitely worth the watch. His enthusiasm is contagious and his story is one that many readers can respect.

There are only a few days left to support In the Country of the Blind: A Novel of Suspense. Rewards range from an eCard to a bookmark to a copy of the completed novel at the lower tiers and hardcover copies, a visit to your book club, as well as the option to name a minor character in the upcoming novel are available at higher tiers.

I highly recommend visiting Arkin's Kickstarter page and checking out the project for yourself. Let's support fellow readers-turned-writers! 

You can learn more about Matthew Arkin on his website, follow him on Twitter or Facebook. 

Lit Starter: Bringing You the Best in Bookish Projects

Welcome to another installment of Lit Starter! This is a regular look at some of my favorite projects discovered through two popular crowd funding websites: Kickstarter and Indiegogo. The featured projects will be related to literature and comics, but not limited to publishing or writing projects.

Author Greg Stolze wants to get his upcoming novel, Sinner, into as many hands as possible. In order to do that, he's turned to Kickstarter. The novel is finished and edited. In an effort to reduce costs, he's having copies of the book printed on-demand and will be shipping them directly to backers.

Stolze has created and successfully funded nearly two dozen projects on the crowd-funding website. He's written many novels, worked on games, and has a healthy fan base. Based on his history, it's safe to say that if he's promising something, he will most likely deliver.

Sinner is about super villain Hector "Sinner" Lear, who hands over his bad man cape and turns himself in to the authorities. The story is told from Sinner's perspective and is his memories of  the journey from living a life of crime to doing time. 

I grew up reading a lot of mystery novels. A lot. Pretty much any mystery I could get my hands on. The more novels I read, the more curious I became about the bad guy. Many mystery novels are told from the perspective of the detective or other person investigating the case -- the person, or persons, looking for the perpetrator. But I started to wonder: what about the bad guy? What does he think? Why does he do horrible things? 

That curiosity is what interested me in Sinner. While it's not a mystery novel of the traditional whodunit sort, it does tell the story from the villain's point of view. The reader gets an inside look at the how, what, and why of Sinner's crimes as well as his transformation.

If you want to learn more about Sinner or back the project, you can click the Kickstarter widget above or simply click here.

You can learn more about Greg Stolze and his work on his website.

Bookshelf, Library Bag, or Donation Box

In Bookshelf, Library Bag or Donation Box, our Tators give their verdict on the books they read, whether they're keepers for the shelves, one you borrow from your local library, or just give to your local used bookstore. 

I'm not going to make you wait until the end of this post for the verdict -- I liked it. It's a quick read; I finished it in under 24 hours. Once you crack open Defending Jacob, it becomes quite difficult to put down because it's full of page-turning twists!

I have always liked mysteries -- the first ones I remember reading were Agatha Christie novels. This book takes a step in a different direction. Defending Jacob is a mystery wrapped in a legal thriller. The author, William Landay, has experience with the law as a graduate of Boston College Law School and a former Assistant District Attorney. This really comes through as you're reading the book; you get a sense that Landay has an intimate knowledge of the subject matter as he explains legal terms in a simple and easy-to-understand manner. It doesn't feel forced. Landay's writing is as accessible as a John Grisham novel.

The story is told as a first-person narrative from the perspective of Andy Barber, father to Jacob and first District Attorney in the small town of Newton, Massachusetts. After a local boy is found murdered, finger pointing begins and the Barber family is caught in the cross hairs. The novel follows their struggles as their son, Jacob, is accused of murder. It's about making difficult choices, what we chose to include in our realities, and the importance of family.

Defending Jacob's strengths are the strong voice and guidance of the narrator coupled with a compelling story that always keeps you second guessing. At the beginning, Andy Barber cozies right up next to you and becomes your new best friend. He expertly navigates you through interactions with the community, the police, the courts, and his family. But when doubt creeps into Andy's mind, it creeps into yours, too.

There were some problems with the book -- one of which was Jacob's mother Laurie and how she was written. She was very one-dimensional, something I wasn't expecting from a small family unit facing adversity. I don't want to outline any more because then I'd just be getting nit-picky and end up spoiling the book. The less you know when you start, the better!

Verdict:

Library Bag. Overall this was an engaging read. I'd recommend borrowing it from the library if you're looking for a suspenseful summer read.

You can read more about the author on his website or chat him up on Twitter.

[Thank you to the author for making the image of his book available for reuse.]

Bookshelf, Library Bag, or Donation Box

In Bookshelf, Library Bag or Donation Box, our Tators give their verdict on the books they read, whether they're keepers for the shelves, one you borrow from your local library, or just give to your local used bookstore. 

The First Rule of Swimming by Courtney Angela Brkic is about two sisters, Magdalena and Jadraka, who are raised their entire lives (apart from one traumatic year) primarily by their grandparents on a small island, Rosamarina, off the coast of Croatia. Jadraka leaves to stay with their American born cousin in New York to help with her cousin's children. One day, Magdalena gets a call from their cousin saying Jadraka is missing. At first Magdalena isn't concerned. Her sister has disappeared before, but this time she hasn't contacted Lena to let her know her whereabouts. What sounds like a lost person mystery evolves into a story of a family long suffering from the effects of war and the bonds of family ties.

I remember reading the synopsis when I was requesting from Netgalley; however, once it arrived, I had a few books ahead of it that I needed to get to first, and this one had to be pushed down the TBR pile. I happened to pick it up without rereading the synopsis, figuring, I must have been interested, or I wouldn't have requested it. So imagine my amusement when I figure out one of the main plot points is a missing woman? If you're following along at home, my last review was Where'd You Go, Bernadette. So I assure you this was not on purpose.

That being said, I think to call this a missing person mystery is selling the book short. It really is the tale of Magdalena's and Jadraka's family and how the war (when Communism fell in the 1990's) effected the members. An uncle who went missing when Lena was just a baby, as well as the girls' mother who makes choices that are harsh and brutal on her children, both have lasting effects on the girls.

It isn't until Magdalena and Ana (the women's mother) arrive in New York that things start coming together in the grand picture. This story spans three generations from Lena and her sister, to their mother Ana and her brother Marin, to the girls' grandfather Luka. I really enjoyed the parts from Luka's perspective and the line he tells the kids when teaching them to swim, "The first rule of swimming was to stay afloat," because it has such meaning in it. Aren't we all just trying to stay afloat?

The Verdict

Library Bag: This is actually a tough one for me to judge because this is one of those books that you'll either love right away or it will drag on. I enjoyed the story of their lives, but it almost masquarades as a mystery novel. Even though Jadraka is missing, you never get the idea she's really in peril until much later. At its heart, it is a story about family and what binds them together, even when it feels like they're being torn apart.

*Review based on a galley provided by netgalley.com

Bookshelf, Library Bag, or Donation Box

In Bookshelf, Library Bag or Donation Box, our Tators give their verdict on the books they read, whether they're keepers for the shelves, one you borrow from your local library, or just give to your local used bookstore. 

Courtesy of Goodreads

Where'd You Go, Bernadette By Maria Semple is a story about a daughter, Bee, who must piece together the mystery of her mother, Bernadette, when she suddenly disappears through emails, memos and other assorted correspondence. Bee starts finding out her mother is not at all who she thought.

I loved this book. There might have been some bias because Bernadette suffers from a bit of social anxiety as do I. So, a lot of the things she said and thought whenever she was out of public I have been guilty of thinking or saying myself. That being said, this was so smartly written. I was afraid of being put off by the fact that the majority of the story was told through letters, office memos, and faxes since the last book I read in this format was The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and that book turned out to be painfully boring for me. The rest of the story is told through the eyes of Bee, Bernadette's fourteen year old daughter, who was remarkably mature for her age.

The story was really funny. Not side splitting humor, but that snide snarky humor that we've all been guilty of at least once. Bernadette's dealings with the "gnats" or the mothers of the other kids at Galer Street School had me chuckling in the oh-my-god-did-she-really-say-that-I'm-so-envious-I-wish-I-could-say-that. The insanity of her next door neighbor had me a little in fear since my oldest is about to start kindergarten in the fall and I know these kinds of mothers exist.

The Verdict

Bookshelf: Easily. I didn't find anything I didn't like about this book. It was well written, engaging, the characters interesting, even the "gnats." I read it in one day. It's a fun read that has really great dialogue, and I am now putting Maria Semple on my "Authors To Watch For" list.


*Paperback edition was provided by Goodreads in a giveaway.

Bookshelf, Library Bag, or Donation Box

In Bookshelf, Library Bag or Donation Box, our Tators give their verdict on the books they read, whether they're keepers for the shelves, one you borrow from your local library, or just give to your local used bookstore. 

Elizabeth Arnold's The Book of Secrets starts when Chloe Sinclair finds Nate, her husband of more than twenty years, gone. She find a cryptic note that explains he's gone back to their childhood town where a tragedy made them leave. She finds a notebook inside a copy of a favorite book of their youth written in a code she recognizes from those times. As she starts breaking the code, Chloe is taken down the path of their past, from the moment Chloe meets Nate and his sisters, Grace and Cecilia, the summers of reckless dares, and the unusually courtship of Nate and Chloe, to the birth of their son and the tragedy that happens to make them leave their hometown. The closer Chloe gets to the buried secrets, the more her life is spun out of control. 

Right away, I was intrigued by this book. As a self-diagnosed bibliophile, any stories about fellow bookish people makes me feel a kinship. I half fell in love with Chloe's and Nate's bookstore, even though I could feel from the beginning all was not well in their lives. The connection Chloe and Nate have with books is incredible. Their first meeting is over The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which cinches the bond they have through their entire lives. I also was fascinated with the idea of using code from books that had impacted their lives. 

This book is not a lighthearted romance of a husband and wife trying to find their way back to each other after some silly mix up. Nor is it a simple mystery of where Nate went. It's an emotional journey. Reading the parts about the Sinclair's father, who was more than a strict taskmaster, I felt for these children, who were not even allowed to play with their dollhouse, because it meant that they were sinful for having an imagination. Nate and Chloe's marriage is not perfect, but you find yourself rooting for them, none the less. I wouldn't say I saw the ending coming, but I will say it wasn't a shock. That being said, I don't feel like the ending was ruined for me at all; rather, I appreciated the way it was not a complete happy ever after, but a work in progress.

The Verdict

Bookshelf: I was hooked from the beginning and never lost interest in the story. That says a lot for me, especially lately when it doesn't seem like it takes much for me to become distracted. I'm not sure who to recommend it to, however. People who like reading stories about characters who like books, for one. I think I would also recommend it to those who know a marriage is never perfect, that even though some feel broken, they aren't always beyond repair. 


*Galley was received for review purposes from netgalley.com

Review: Life After Life

Kate Atkinson's Life After Life is the story of Ursula Todd, who dies minutes after she's born then on that same day is born to live a life that is full of "do-overs." She lives only to die, only to live again. The book takes place from 1910 to the end of the First World War, to the trials and tribulations of the Second, and all the years in between, with Ursula making decisions that have incredible consequences.

As my mother-in-law likes to say "there is more than one way to live a life" and in this case, it's showcased in Ursula's never-ending deja vu. It also fits my husband's favorite phrase "Life is about choices." Every time Ursula lives again and comes to that moment that would take the path it did previously, she chooses to take another route.

I admit to being intrigued just by the very synopsis. Really? She dies? Kind of? How is this going to work? Atkinson handles the story very well. I enjoyed seeing how one simple event could change Ursula's life for better or for worse. I do wish her "deja vu" moments had been explained a bit each time she lives again, just so we know why she just doesn't do the same thing she did the last time. It's toyed with a bit during her childhood, but later in adulthood there seems to be very little "ah ha" moments for the character to take the other road.

I found Ursula's family to be very realistic, especially for the time period. I really loved her father Hugh.  He was a father and husband who generally just wanted a peaceful household so ignored a lot, but loved his family. Ursula also a great character. With each decision and event, I couldn't help, but empathize with her when I took into account the time period, her social class, her family. How no matter how dramatic the choice and its outcome, you still saw her core and understood her motives.

The Verdict
Bookshelf: If you ever wonder about the what-ifs in your life, this is your book. The paths we could all take in our lives and where they could ultimately lead up.

Literary Links: March 15th Edition

The next best thing to reading an actual book.

If Books Were Bands - I always say books should have soundtracks, so when I read Grapes of Wrath now I'm just going to blast The Boss.

Hobbit gambling rights: Warner Bros countersues JRR Tolkien estate - What would Gandolf think?

Darren Shan's top 10 books about outsiders for teenagers - Some surprising choices, but good ones. 

Story Prize Winner 2013 Announced: Claire Vaye Watkins For 'Battleborn' - If you enjoy stories revolving around the American West, this collection might be for you.

Judging 2012 Book Covers: US vs. UK - Another version of who does it better? You be the judge.

Literary Links: March 14th Edition

The next best thing to reading an actual book.

I Read the Book or Did I? - I am now ready to admit I've done this. Not purposefully, but I've thought I'd read Frankenstein for years. Apparently not!

Staging Shakespeare first Festival video game - First we had news about Edgar the Game now Shakespeare? We are so in!


Gulliver's travels in science and satire - Another way to look at Swift's novel. 

New Book Prize, Folio, To Reward English-language Fiction - The new award is open to all English language books published in England. It will be interesting to see who the first nominees are in 2014.

Women's Prize for Fiction Longlist - Speaking of prizes, I have so many books to add to my TBR pile now! Did your favorites make the cut?

Courtesy: goodreads.com