Mailbox Monday - August Acquisitions

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page.
This is a fun mailbox. It was made by Mariner's Mailboxes. They have a lot of teams, but I chose the Carolina Panthers since they are the local team! How many football fanatics would love to have this kind of mailbox? Come back next week to see a different unique mailbox. :)

I haven't done Mailbox Monday since August 3rd! But I haven't had much coming in either. Here is what I acquired this month:

Happiness is a Choice by Barry Neil Kaufman

From: Lily of Reading Extravaganza
I won it from the Spiritually Speaking Challenge Giveaway

A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks
From: BookMooch

Jane Austen: An Illustrated Treasury by Rebecca Dickson
Bought it at Barnes & Noble yesterday (Too cool to pass up)
Summary for Jane Austen fans:
In the minds of fans and scholars alike, Jane Austen has never grown old. Now more than ever, Jane Austen is a presence in pop culture—a major accomplishment for someone who published her books anonymously all her life. Who was Jane Austen? We have only a couple of sketches and letters to tell us about her, but from this slim thread hangs a library’s worth of speculation, including countless Hollywood interpretations of her life and her books. This book takes you inside the author’s world—the hardships she faced, the loves she lost, and the keen sense of irony that kept her going. Fully illustrated with Regency-era artwork, the book also explains key aspects of life in Austen’s time. This treasury also contains removable reproductions of many important documents, including a handwritten letter from Jane to her sister Cassandra, pages from the rough draft of Persuasion, and a quirky “History of England” written by Jane as a schoolgirl and illustrated by her sister. These special features, combined with the insightful narrative and evocative images, make Jane Austen: An Illustrated Treasury an intimate and unique experience for anyone who appreciates the timeless significance of her work.
Yeah, I know. I read 2 pages in the store and was hooked.


I met Heather from A High and Hidden Place last weekend. She is exactly how you would imagine her- super sweet and loads of fun in a bookstore! Even her son was the perfect gentleman as we browsed the shelves for like 2 hours! Here is what I brought home from our B&N shopping spree:

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
Heather recommended this book since I like magical realism.

The Belly Dancer by DeAnna Cameron
This is a book I have been wanting for a while and it had a good price.

Ideas That Changed the World by Felipe Fernandez Armesto
This was a total impulse buy. I like books that discuss ideas and philosophies.

The Book Thief by Marcus Zuzak
Another book I have been wanting for a while. Plus, it is the October book for a book club in my city that I wanted to join. I can read this on the plane to or from India!

A Passage to India by E.M. Forster

BOOK #: 69
REASONS READ: Interest in India; 21 Cultures Challenge; New Authors Challenge; A to Z Challenge; 999 Challenge; Classics Challenge; Summer Reading List
PUBLISHER: Hodder Headline (1924)
GENRE: Literary Fiction; Classics; British Lit
RATING: 4/5 Stars

SUMMARY: When Adela and her elderly companion Mrs Moore arrive in the Indian town of Chandrapore, they quickly feel trapped by its insular and prejudiced British community. Determined to explore the real India', they seek the guidance of the charming and mercurial Dr Aziz, a cultivated Indian Muslim. But a mysterious incident occurs while they are exploring the Marabar caves with Aziz, and the well-respected doctor soon finds himself at the centre of a scandal that rouses violent passions among both the British and their Indian subjects. A masterly portrait of a society in the grip of imperialism, A Passage to India compellingly depicts the fate of individuals caught between the great political and cultural conflicts of the modern world.

FAVORITE LINE: "It is easy to sympathize at a distance. I value more the kind word that is spoken close to my ear."

FAVORITE CHARACTER: I really enjoyed Mrs. Moore because she was empathetic, fiesty and true to herself.

THEMES: Racism, Culture Shock (Forster uses the term "muddle" to describe India's mystery to the West), the Oneness and Unity of Everything versus the Lack of Distinction between Good/Evil, Right/Wrong

FINAL THOUGHTS: As I prepare to go to India at the end of September for my sister's traditional Indian wedding (she will also have a traditional American wedding next July), I am immersing myself in everything India. My future brother-in-law is an amazing person and I am so happy for my sister. There are no concerns about whether Indians and whites can be friends- they are to be married! There is only joyous celebration in preparation for the occasion.

We have come far from the racist attitudes present in 1920s British-ruled India. Prejudices still continue all over the world today, but I, for one, am glad that I live in a time when these prejudices are being not only challenged but shattered. I live in a time when an African-American is President and my friends (and soon my family) are of all different nationalities and ethnic backgrounds. I live in a time and a place where I know my future nieces and nephews will have a very small chance of being judged by their ethnicity and more by the content of their character (I just got all MLK right there, but it is true!)

Reading A Passage to India was enlightening. Growing up in the U.S. where it is very diverse and in a time where people are growing more and more accepting and open minded and being a person who has always been accepting and open minded, I find it bewildering that these prejudices ever happened and even more bewildering that they still go on today. I am the type of person who looks forward to the unexpected treats of India instead of hoping to find many familiar signs of the West. Of course, if you have been reading my blog long enough, you know I love immersing myself in learning about other cultures.

This book was slow at times, but it definitely was worth reading. I love books that leave you with more thoughts to ponder than mysteries solved. What can I do to help others see what I see when I look at another person- their mind and heart? I recommend reading this book at least once.

Other Reviews:

The Zen Leaf
Book Gazing

If you have reviewed this book or another book I have reviewed, please leave me a message or comment and I will add your link to my review post!

TSS: Book Blog Post Turn Ons/Turn Offs

I have been curious about this topic for a couple of weeks now: what interests people about my blog and what draws people to read certain posts? The answers could be as varied as the number of readers. So I decided to open up a small discussion on what draws us personally to particular posts.

I would like to share some of the things that instantly draw me to or push me away from particular posts:

• Visuals. I love images. I don't know if I am just a visual person or if it has to do with my attention problems, but visuals are a big ticket item for me, if you will. If there are not pictures of the book on the review, I have a much harder time getting interested in reading the review, especially if it is of a book I am not familiar with. So, while some people may be overwhelmed by lots of graphics/colors and while I know it takes longer to load a page, it certainly helps garner my interest.
• Short and Sweet. I ramble as much as the next person so I am being a bit hypocritical when I say I enjoy short posts. But it is not just the length of the post- it is mostly the length of the paragraph. If the paragraph is more than a few sentences, I may be lost. It comes back to the visuals and the attention thing- breaks make me feel like I am making progress through my reading. It is something I cherish in books as well. It has certainly helped James Patterson become a favorite. Not only are his books interesting to me, his short chapters make me feel like I am making progress. The longer the chapter/post/paragraph, the more likely I am to begin wondering when it ends than concentrating on the story. I have the attention span of a goldfish, I know this.
  
• Fresh and New. If I have already seen and read eight reviews of Wuthering Heights this week, chances are when I come to another one, I will pass it by. I will not stop and check to see if there is something new and interesting said on it. I will click Next Item. Give me something I have not seen before or haven't seen a dozen times in the last month and I will be 120% more inclined to stop and stay a while.
  
• Blog Tours. Now, if the book in question is one on a blog tour, I understand that you have to read and review by a certain date. I have done and I am on blog tours. I am not going to roll my eyes at that. I will stop and look to see what you have to say in your review, even if I don't comment. One issue I do have with the tours is that some of them seem too big. If there are more than 15 blogs on the tour, there are too many, imo. Readers begin to see the book everywhere and like I said after I read about it so many times in a week or two, I begin to pass them right by, and that is incredibly unfair to those bloggers who are at the end of the tours. Keeping a lower number of blogs in each tour keeps my interest higher. I think 12-15 is a perfect number so that you get a good range of audience and readers get a good number of opinions on the book. When the numbers start climbing to 20 and 30 for one book, I can get sick of hearing about the book I won't read it until possibly years from now. Cases in point- The Secret Keeper by Paul Harris and Secrets to Happiness by Sarah Dunn- whatever interest I had for reading these books was quickly squashed by the time I saw my 42nd review.
  

So what about you? What turns you on/off when you are going through your Google Reader or browsing your blogroll? Do you look for the latest and greatest? Are you interested in the one book everyone is talking about? Are you giddy when you see reviews for the classics? Do you grimace when you see First Card Wild Tour's playing card symbol or would you rather poke your eye out than read another meme? Do you wish there were more discussions or less discussions? Do you enjoy blogs that post more often/less often? What are your preferences?

My Month in Movies- July/August

My Month in Movies is a monthly feature I do to share one of my other entertainment loves! Descriptions of the movies come from Netflix (I heart Netflix) and my star ratings follow. Be sure to check and see what I am planning on watching next, too!




DRUGSTORE COWBOY (1989)

In this unrepentant look at the life of junkies, a quartet of addicts robs pharmacies to fuel their habits. Ringleader Bob Hughes (Matt Dillon), along with his wife (Kelly Lynch) and underlings Rick (James Le Gros) and Nadine (Heather Graham), takes the show on the road after things get too hot at home. When Nadine goes toes up from an overdose, Bob swears off drugs and tries to rebuild his life -- minus his wife, who's determined to stay hooked. ***


THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (2004)
William Shakespeare's incendiary drama about passion and justice amid an anti-Semitic atmosphere hits the screen again in this lush production starring Al Pacino. Lacking money to woo an heiress (Lynn Collins), smitten Bassanio (Joseph Fiennes) turns to his merchant friend, Antonio (Jeremy Irons), whose cash is tied up. But he secures a loan from Shylock (Pacino) on condition that if Antonio defaults, he'll pay with a pound of flesh -- literally. **

SIXTEEN CANDLES (1984) (watched for Alea's I Dare You Challenge)
Samantha Baker's (Molly Ringwald) 16th birthday should be perfect and memorable, but her whole family seems preoccupied with her sister's impending wedding and completely forgets Samantha's big day. To add insult to injury, the school geek (Anthony Michael Hall) won't stop hitting on her, and she's convinced the boy of her dreams (Michael Schoeffling) doesn't know she exists. A 1980s teen-angst classic from the master of the genre, John Hughes. *****

KOLYA (1996)
A renowned cellist in the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, middle-aged bachelor Frantisek Louka (Zdenek Sverak) is reduced to playing funerals at the city crematorium. Strapped for cash, Louka indulges himself by having sex with other men's wives. On the eve of the 1989 "Velvet Revolution," Louka has no idea that more than political turmoil is imminent; the personal revolution he's about to experience is just as unpredictable. … ***

SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE (1993)(re-watch)
Fate and a tenacious 8-year-old boy conspire to unite lovelorn widower Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) and unhappily engaged Annie Reed (Meg Ryan) in Nora Ephron's Oscar-nominated romantic comedy, inspired by the 1957 classic An Affair to Remember. When Annie hears Sam and his young son, Jonah (Ross Malinger), on a call-in radio show, she thinks she's found her soul mate. Jonah knows Annie is the one, but convincing his dad could take a little work. *****

ENCHANTED (2007)
Wide-eyed Princess Giselle (Amy Adams) sees her perfect life in the cartoon kingdom of Andalasia come to an abrupt end when evil Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon) exiles Giselle to the cruel, real world of New York City, a place ruled by street smarts instead of royals. A native Prince Charming (Patrick Dempsey) reluctantly takes her in, but will his day job as a harried divorce lawyer -- and his cynical view of love -- stop their budding romance? **** (Actually not as hokey as you'd think.)

BLINDNESS (2008)
After a plague of blindness overtakes the residents of a city, all sense of order breaks loose in the hospital where the victims are being quarantined. It's up to a woman (Julianne Moore) who's keeping her sight a secret to lead a group safely to the streets. Gael García Bernal, Mark Ruffalo, Sandra Oh and Danny Glover also star in this psychological thriller, an adaptation of José Saramago's gripping masterpiece. *** (Would have been more stars if the reason for the blindness had been explained. But still a riveting movie that brings up all kinds of ethical and moral questions.)

SERENDIPITY (2001)
An amalgam of the plot lines from When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle, Serendipity has John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale meeting cute during a Christmas shopping spree but parting company soon thereafter. Ten years (and a few failed relationships) later, they yearn to put true love to the test by reuniting. But first, they have to find each other. ****


THE MALTESE FALCON (1941) (I'd read the book but not seen the movie.)
Play Preview Humphrey Bogart stars as private eye Sam Spade in this Oscar-nominated noir classic that finds the sultry Miss Wonderly (Mary Astor) seeking out protection from a man named Thursby. Spade's partner (Jerome Cowan) takes the case -- but he winds up dead, along with Thursby. Spade's subsequent hunt for the killer leads him into a world of deception and double-crossing, as a trio of criminals searches for a priceless statue known as the Maltese Falcon. *****

Coming Up Next in My Netflix Queue:
~The Road Home (2000 Foreign Romantic Drama from China)
~Bride and Prejudice (2004 Bollywood Romantic Comedy)
~Monsoon Wedding (2001 Romantic Drama set in India)
~1408 (2007 Supernatural Horror with John Cusack)
~Clifford (cheesy 1984 movie for Alea's I Dare You Challenge)

What have you been watching this month? Have you ever watched any of these movies? What did you rate them?

James Patterson Reading Challenge

Yvonne is hosting this fantastic challenge on her blog Socrates' Book Reviews! Oh, how I heart James Patterson!

Here are the guidelines...

1. The challenge is to read at least 10 James Patterson books in a year. You do not need to make a list of what you will read now or, if you want, you can. However, nothing is written in stone and the books you list can be changed at any time. Overlapping books with other challenges is allowed.

2. As long as it's written by James Patterson, you can use the book in this challenge. Even if you are part of my Women's Murder Club challenge, you can overlap books and count them as part of this challenge.

3. All books need to be read between August 15, 2009 and August 15, 2010. Books read prior to August 15th don't count for this challenge.

4. If you want to participate, just post about it on your blog with a link back to here.

3. Audio and Ebooks are acceptable.

4. Please use Mr. Linky below to sign up. Use the link to your post about this challenge, not your main blog address. Links that don't go directly to your challenge post will be deleted.

5. Once you complete the challenge, please post the link to your wrap-up blog post with Mr. Linky (I will put up a Mr. Linky for completed lists.)

6. There will also be a Mr. Linky for reviews, although posting your reviews are not a requirement.

7. You can take the button above and post it on your blog.

And for those of you "concerned" about my # of challenges, most of my challenges end in December, giving me ample time to complete these few that are left. :) Yay for a JP reading challenge! Thanks, Yvonne!


Reading List:
1. Along Came a Spider by James Patterson (Oct/Nov 2009)
2. Maximum Ride 2: School's Out--Forever by James Patterson (February 2009)
3. Maximum Ride 3: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports (February 2009)
4. 3rd Degree (July 2010)
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10.

The Lie by Fredrica Wagman

BOOK #: 68
REASONS READ: New Authors Challenge; Summer Reading List; TBR Lite Challenge; Sent for review from FSB Media
PUBLISHER: Zoland Books
GENRE: Fiction
RATING: 2.5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Ramona Smollens has a chance meeting on a park bench with an older man, Solomon Columbus. The two become lovers, and soon Ramona is leaving the home of her mother and recently deceased father for marriage and the trappings of adult life. She takes with her a dark family secret, the sort of secret one simply did not talk about, one that would stalk her as she matured into her role as wife and mother. Coming of age in 1950's America. Ramona gets her cues about a woman's role from the world around her, and about female sexuality from the silver screen. When experience teaches her that Hollywood's ideal is in fact "the lie," truth and desire collide with a force that is deeply moving and unforgettable.

What I Liked About the Book: Wagman has some very beautifully written thoughts. I like to read passages like "But that was because I didn't know then that success teaches nothing" and "we fly with our past on our wings" and "she glared at me still reeking of that venerated air of supreme indifference that she so diligently cultivated over her whole long nasty life."

What I Did Not Like: The stream-of consciousness writing is harder to enjoy than I thought it would be. There are hardly any periods or question marks, but there are tons of what seem to me to be run on sentences, sprinkled with -- and ... and italics. I thought an ADD reader like myself would find this style likable, but instead I found it distracting and after 50 pages of it, very annoying, to be honest. Like I said, I was surprised my ADD brain did not revel in it.

"Penis Fingers": The man Ramona falls in love with is first brought to her attention because of his "penis fingers". I feel like I need a visual for this one. I can't begin to imagine anyone's fingers looking like a penis. I'm sorry, but I was just bewildered by this one. I especially needed a visual after Ramona mentions it about two dozen times. If it is so amazing, I am going to need to see what the deal is with these things. I did find some relief when Ramona realized that she was also drawn to Solomon's calmness and not just his fingers. Finally, something I can relate to.

Final Thoughts: I think that this was not a book I could really get into and thoroughly enjoy, but obviously that is just my opinion. I always recommend reading more reviews before deciding whether you want to give the book a try or not. Below are some more reviews on The Lie that I know about. If you have reviewed this book or another book I have reviewed, please leave me a message or comment and I will add your link to my review post.

Other Reviews:
Just Books
Serendipitious Readings

Take Me Away...to Egypt

Take Me Away Saturday

As a lover of books that take place in different cultures and are about different cultures, Take Me Away is a way to share this love with you, my readers and friends!

Each week I feature a different country or culture (ex. Cherokee, Jewish, etc. that do not have a specific country per se) and list some books that can transport you there.

I am keeping a map of the countries we visit and a list of the specific cultures, which you can see at the bottom of this post. Here is a list of where we've been so far:
Australian Aborigines
Brazil India
Sierra Leone
Sioux Nation Spain
Japan Haiti
Kenya Norway
Taiwan Turkey
Chile

This week we are visiting the African country of Egypt. Click on the titles of the books to go to Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.com to read reviews and/or purchase the book.

Here is a close-up map of Egypt:
Click here to learn more about Egypt.



The Cairo Trilogy: Palace Walk, Place of Desire, & Sugar Street by Naguib Mahfouz
The Nobel Prize—winning writer's masterwork is the engrossing story of a Muslim family in Cairo during Britain's occupation of Egypt in the early decades of the twentieth century. The novels of The Cairo Trilogy trace three generations of the family of tyrannical patriarch Al-Sayyid Ahmad Abd al-Jawad, who rules his household with a strict hand while living a secret life of self-indulgence. Palace Walk introduces us to his gentle, oppressed wife, Amina, his cloistered daughters, Aisha and Khadija, and his three sons–the tragic and idealistic Fahmy, the dissolute hedonist Yasin, and the soul-searching intellectual Kamal. Al-Sayyid Ahmad's rebellious children struggle to move beyond his domination in Palace of Desire, as the world around them opens to the currents of modernity and political and domestic turmoil brought by the 1920s. Sugar Street brings Mahfouz's vivid tapestry of an evolving Egypt to a dramatic climax as the aging patriarch sees one grandson become a Communist, one a Muslim fundamentalist, and one the lover of a powerful politician. Throughout the trilogy, the family's trials mirror those of their turbulent country during the years spanning the two World Wars, as change comes to a society that has resisted it for centuries. Filled with compelling drama, earthy humor, and remarkable insight, The Cairo Trilogy is the achievement of a master storyteller. Publisher: Everyman's Library Genre: Fiction

Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi
"All the men I did get to know, every single man of them, has filled me with but one desire: to lift my hand and bring it smashing down on his face. But because I am a woman I have never had the courage to lift my hand. And because I am a prostitute, I hid my fear under layers of make-up." Saadawi's searing indictment of society's brutal treatment of women continues to resonate today. This classic novel has been an inspiration to countless people across the world. 2007 recipient of The African Literature Association’s Fonlon-Nichols Award, which is given annually to an African writer for excellence in creative writing and for contributions to the struggles for human rights and freedom of expression. Publisher: Zed Books Genre: Fiction

Ancient Egypt by David P. Silverman
Twelve contributing scholars have joined Silverman in writing this lavishly illustrated book that contains 200 color photographs, maps, and charts. Their essays cover such broad subjects as history, geography, legends, archaeology, religion, economy, art, architecture, and language. There are pieces on international trade and travel, farming, hunting, fishing, mining, capital cities, palaces, fortresses, gender and society, mathematics, medicine, magic, the pharaohs, the cosmos, the cult of the dead, ritual games, the pyramids, tombs, temples, the solar cycle, and hieroglyphs. The writing is based on the latest historical research and archaeological finds, offering readers a penetrating look at the daily life of both royalty and commoner. Publisher: Oxford University Press Genre: Nonfiction, Ancient History

Into the Mummy's Tomb, edited by John Richard Stephens
The Mummy. The first thing that comes to mind is the curse...reanimation... and revenge. But what further mysteries are there to be unwrapped in the tombs of the Ancient Egyptians? This exciting anthology features a diverse selection of remarkable talents, from major bestselling authors like Anne Rice (famous for her vampire and mummy novels) and Elizabeth Peters (mystery's master of Egyptology), to all-time favorites such as Bram Stoker (who wrote one of the first mummy novels) and Agatha Christie (queen of the sealed "tomb" mystery). Into the Mummy's Tomb even includes a few surprises-a short story by Tennessee Williams (his first professional sale), an actual translation of a tale written in 300 B.C. by an Egyptian priest, and nonfiction pieces by famous Egyptologist Arthur Weigall and the discoverer of King Tut's tomb, Howard Carter. You never know what you might find when you venture Into the Mummy's Tomb-for century-spanning tales of horror, fantasy, romance, and history. Publisher: Berkley Trade Genre: Anthology Read my review of some selections here.

Warlock by Wilbur Smith
After the death of his beloved Queen Lostris, Taita retreats into the forbidding deserts of North Africa to become a hermit. He devotes himself to the study of the occult, and armed with these extraordinary powers, he gradually transforms into a warlock. After many years, he finally discovers the divine purpose in his bereavement when he is called upon to save the dynasty of Lostris from the clouds of evil that loom over Egypt. Exploding with all the drama and mystery of a bygone time, Warlock is a masterpiece from a storyteller at the height of his powers. Publisher: St. Martin's Press Genre: Thriller

Napoleon's Pyramids (Ethan Gage Series #1) by William Dietrich
What mystical secrets lie beneath the Great Pyramids? Traveling with Napoleon's ambitious expedition, American adventurer Ethan Gage solves a five-thousand-year-old riddle with the help of a mysterious medallion. William Dietrich's books have been hailed for their vivid imagery, evocative atmospheres, impeccable historical accuracy, and ambitious plots. Now, in the breakout novel of his career, he delivers an enthralling story of intrigue, greed, and danger. Ethan Gage, assistant to Ben Franklin and expatriate American in post-revolutionary France, wins an ancient—and possibly cursed—medallion in a card game one night. It turns out that the medallion, covered in seemingly indecipherable symbols, may be linked to a Masonic mystery. That same night, however, Ethan is framed for a prostitute's murder and barely escapes France with his life. Faced with either prison or death, Gage is offered a third choice: to accompany the new emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, as France sails to conquer Egypt—with Lord Nelson's fleet following close behind. Once Gage arrives, he encounters incredible surprises: one in the form of a beautiful Macedonian slave and another in the dawning knowledge that the medallion may solve one of the greatest riddles of history—who built the Great Pyramids, and why. What is revealed to Gage is more shocking than anyone could ever have imagined. Publisher: HarperCollins Genre: Thriller, Series

The Memoirs of Cleopatra: A Novel by Margaret George
Cleopatra has captivated generations, and this huge novel will ensure additional adulation. Beginning with a memory at age three of witnessing her mother's death and ending with her own suicide, Cleopatra tells her story. Both the telling and the tale are exceptional. George (Mary Queen of Scotland and the Isles, St. Martin's, 1992) combines history and legend with her own imagination to produce a fascinating portrait. Strangely, some of the more implausible events, such as Cleopatra's being hidden in a rug and taken to Caesar, are fact, not fiction. The graceful use of the language and the intense action make for compelling reading. Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin Genre: Fiction

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran
The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s revengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome; only two– the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander–survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian’s sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts. Publisher: Crown Genre: Historical Fiction

The Prince of Egypt: Dreamworks Classics Collection by Jane Yolen
First in the DreamWorks Classics CollectionTM, this big, beautiful storybook is the best way for fans to recapture the magic and grandeur of The Prince of Egypt. Acclaimed author Jane Yolen provides a powerful, finely crafted retelling, that matches the sweep of this groundbreaking film. Each essential scene, from Moses' fateful journey in the basket to the wondrous parting of the Red Sea, is richly retold and stunningly rendered in a storybook that is a fine stand-alone as well as a splendid companion to the film. Adventure, sorrow, mischief, and miracles--all the elements of an epic tale are transferred from screen to page for collectors or any reader to cherish. Publisher: Dutton Juvenile Genre: Children's Books


This is not, of course, an exhaustive list. Do you want to share book recommendations for the country of Egypt? Or do you want to share other thoughts? Please leave a note in the comments!

Be sure to check back next week for another trip in books! Here is what is coming up for the next three Take Me Away Saturday posts:

September 5: The culture of the Inuit People.
September 12: Trio: the countries of Estonia, Latvia, & Lithuania
September 19: The Asian country of Vietnam

The Take Me Away Map of Countries Visited:










Cultures Visited:
Sioux Nation
Australian Aborigines

Haiku Friday

Haiku Friday is hosted by Jen at It's a Jen's Life.
I have to give a shout-out to Sandra of Fresh Ink Books because I found this meme on her blog.



These haiku are written in the Japanese tradition, not counting syllables or always restricting them to a three line form.


love waits for no one
grab the opportunity
when it presents itself
knock, knock


the starry sky glows
burning ambers of light
So powerful yet so peaceful



*The poetry on this page is under license.

Friday Finds- Copper Sun, The Coral Thief, and more

Welcome to Friday Finds! This is where book bloggers can share the books they found during the week that are going straight on their list to read! Here are the ones I've added to my TBR list this week:

Book: Copper Sun by Sharon Draper
Found @ things mean a lot

Book: How I Became a Famous Novelist by Steve Hely
Found @ The Book Book

Book: The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry
Found @ Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'?

Book: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Found @ Age 30+...a Lifetime of Books
(Of course I've heard of Jane Eyre, but Heather's review convinced me to actually read the book.)

Book: Saplings by Noel Streatfeild
Found @ things mean a lot

Book: In the Arms of Immortals: A Novel of Darkness and Light by Ginger Garrett
Found @ Books and Needlepoint

Book: Let it Snow by John Green
Found @ Bloggers [heart] books


The following were all found @ Reading the Past:

The Coral Thief by Rebecca Scott
Delilah by India Edghill
The Invisible City by Emili Rosales
Okei by Mitsugu Saotome
The Saffron Gate by Linda Holeman

20 Questions- Featuring Kristen of Bookworming in the 21st Century

Welcome back to my new feature, 20 Questions, where we get to know our fellow book bloggers a little better. Today I would like to present to you Kristen of one of my new favorite blogs, Bookworming in the 21st Century! Thanks, Kristen!

20 QUESTIONS

1. Last book you bought: In the Belly of the Bloodhound by L.A. Meyer. I've read all of this series so far and am now collecting them in paperback format.

2. Last book you got in the mail: Today I just got Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell.

3. The first book you read over and over: The first? Probably anything Nancy Drew, I've read all of those a billion times as a kid.

4. Children’s book every child should read: Where the Wild Things Are

5. Favorite place to read: On my couch.

6. A book you bought just for the cover: Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert (that and all the hype)

7. Scariest book ever read: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

8. Most romantic book ever read: GloomCookie by Serena Valentino - something about dying over and over again just for love appeals to me.

9. Book that changed your life in some way: Fables by Bill Willingham - got me WAY into graphic novels.

10. Book you’ve re-read the most times: The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene (1st Nancy Drew book)

11. Book you needed the Cliff’s Notes for: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

12. Book you needed the dictionary for: Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky

13. Book you like that no one else seems to: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

14. Book you don’t like that everyone else seems to love: A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell

15. Number of books you own (you can guess): Right now.. about 500

16. Number of books on your TBR list (that you have not acquired yet): Around 750

17. Must-have reading accessories: blanket and tea

18. Literary Destination You Want to Go to: Lyra's Oxford from Philip Pullman's series.

19. Top Three Favorite Authors: Francesca Lia Block, Charles DeLint, and Kristin Britain.

20. Three Book Bloggers You Want to See Featured in the Future: I would love to see Emma from Booking Through 365 (http://bookingthrough365.blogspot.com/) - because she rocks and got me into blogging - Shayla from The Book Explorer (http://thebookexplorer.blogspot.com/) - love talking to that gal! - and Kay from You 2.0 Blog (http://www.kaycassidy.com/blog/) - because I am totally in love with her blog.

Check the schedule below to see who is appearing next on 20 Questions!

Tuesday, Sept. 1- Tif of Tif Talks Books
Thursday, Sept. 3- Carolyn of Book Chick City


Do you want to be featured on 20 Questions? Send me an e-mail (which you can find on my Blogger profile!) with your answers to the questions! Please include questions and answers together, which makes it easier for me to post, plus a photo if you want me to put a different one than your blog's profile picture. I will then e-mail you and let you know I received them and will e-mail you again on the week when you will be featured!