Cover Attractions~!

If I could get my hands on this one! LOL! This cover pic is SO CUTE- I would love to have this book!

About the book ~~

Some pairings are just meant to be: peanut butter and chocolate, yin and yang, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. So it was only a matter of time before the stars in the universe lined up and suggested the collaboration between New York Times best selling author Bradley Trevor Greive and award-winning photographer Rachael Hale.
Teaming up on their first collaborative effort, Greive and Hale explain once and for all Why Dogs Are Better Than Cats. Now, before all you cat lovers find your fur standing on end, Greive is quick to stress that he is simply "prodog, not anticat. The purpose of this book is not to criticize cats or their owners, but to champion the many exceptional virtues unique to dogs."
What are these unique attributes that make canine companions superior to their feline fiends? (Oops, we meant friends.) Consider the following:
Put simply:
* Dogs are social. Cats are sociopaths.
* Dogs match up to people. People must match up to cats.
* Dogs teach us patience. Cats test our patience.
* Dogs give and give. Cats are the gift that keeps on grifting.
The bottom line is this: Dogs want love. Cats want fish.
Although Greive admits that there is something to be said for "soft, warm, and sleepy" (a.k.a. cats) as captured in Hale's cuddly feline photographs, he concludes that dogs would be the only ones with character enough to admit this fact, thereby once again positioning themselves as the superior pet, confidant, admirer, and friend.

You can gift this one to me too LOL!

Another one that caught my attention was from Serena's book additions on GoodReads -

Thank you Marcia for hosting this! What covers are you attracted to this week?!

Hakim & Terrance Shadow Mystery by Bernadine Feagins

Hakim & Terrance Shadow Mystery

by Bernadine Feagins

Paperback, 68 Pages

Published August 7, 2009

Synopsis:

Hakim and Terrance Shadow Mystery is a wonderful story about a lost dog. Two best friends go on an adventure to bring Shadow home. Along the way you will meet nice neighbors, some kind business owners and many others. The mystery begins when someone finally provides a clue. What do you think that clue is? Find out today with your purchase of Hakim and Terrance Shadow Mystery

First of all thanks to Pump up Your Book Promotions for this chance to review of this book and to the author for sending me this delightful novella.

The synopsis sums up the book neatly. With delightful and detailed illustrations we embark on a mystery solving journey with Hakim and Terrance. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is a very nice look at how friendship and love help us in our life. It also showcases the art of giving up on something one loves for the benefit of others.

All in all a beautiful and lovely little book for kids and their parents!

This would definitely make a wonderful gift for your little ones at home.

About the author: Bernadine Feagins is a new author who is looking forward to many years of writing children's books. She has always had a love of children and worked many years in early childhood education. During these times she witnessed the joy children felt as she would demonstratively read books. In addition she is a very active mom who loves to nurture not only her children, but those of family and community. She often had story time with those she loved and cared for. She developed her story telling skills through the numerous books she read to children, this gave her an inspiration to tell her own story. Hakim and Terrance Shadow Mystery is the result. When Bernadine isn’t reading to children or involved in some other child nurturing activity, she can be found as a business woman that works for the IRS. Bernadine is available for interviews, book signings or public reading in schools and libraries.

Visit Bernadine online here. 
Buy the book online via Amazon!

Cover Attractions!

One author I have been wanting to read for some time! I am sure I will read her titles in 2010! I hear her new book is coming in 2010 [ thank you Alyce] - One Amazing Thing. I am looking forward to it as well!
Did you see the movie version of Mistress of Spices?! I did, and well I was not crazy about it much. I am sure I will like the book better though, has happened a lot of times!

What covers are you attracted to this week?! Thank you Marcia for hosting this!
Thank you Marcia for hosting this one!In Cover Attractions, I post about all the covers that I loved the past week and little about them. I never obviously read them though... but if I do find them here... no one is going to be able to stop me from buying them LOL!
My previous cover attraction posts!

Short Story 18: A Mother's Tale by James Agee

A Mother's Tale by James Agee

Available ONLINE

My Rating: 5 on 5!

I have to thank Jason Gignac who commented on C.B. James post about creating a list of 1001 short stories you must read before you die; about a story he liked very much. Maybe it has to be the story title or something, I was intrigued and went ahead and bookmarked it. C.B. has 333 short stories in the list and the list is growing, if you have a short story you think should be on the list, let him and me know [ I would love to read it]. So I have a new repository to dig through for more stories.

What should I say about this one? It is touching, marvelous and definitely on of those stories you must take time to read! 

The story begins with a calf shouting and asking his mom where immense drove of cattle were going and why were men moving around them on horses and dogs following them like that. Evidently the calf had seen nothing of this sort all his life and the young group wanted an explanation from the all - knowing mother. The mother was first evasive, didn't really want them to know, but as she saw the curiosity and the determination in her own, to join the herd, she starts telling them about it!

I love the way the author has rendered the dialogues... I can't tell you more, you definitely will have to read to know!

She always tried hard to be a reasonably modern mother. It was probably better, she felt, to go on, than to leave them all full of imaginings and mystification. Besides, there was really nothing at all awful about what happened . . . if only one could know why.

I read this one for 100 shots of shorts challenge, he is hosting! Join in the challenge here.

Saturday Quotes!

“I'm a failed poet. Maybe every novelist wants to write poetry first, finds he can't and then tries the short story which is the most demanding form after poetry. And failing at that, only then does he take up novel writing.”
-William Faulkner quotes

PS - The above image comes from redbubble. Check it out, they have some great shots there by tonilouise 

Rory Gilmore Books Project!

You know how I didn't even know any thing about this Rory Gilmore thing and then Shona comes along and has started a NEW challenge with all the books in there. A perpetual challenge,! That defnitely perks my interest ;)

So I am joining Shona, not that I am going to be a great buddy to her, oh come just look at the LIST OF BOOKS she so labouriously created for this challenge, but I think I can readily start at some books I have with me right now.

I think I can safely say that I will read some classics that I am yet to read and some other titles and find a bit about Rory Gilmore. Because I like this saying - Reading is Sexy!

Do you think Reading is sexy?! Then well join in!

Wish I'd Read That Challenge 2010

This challenge is for all those books you wish you'd read. It might be Pride and Prejudice, War and Peace, a Nora Roberts Romantic Suspense, the Outlander series or a childhood classic Winnie the Pooh.


Challenge Guidelines:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
--Non-Bloggers: Include your information in the comment section.


2. There are four levels:


-- Curious – Read 3 books.


-- Fascinated – Read 6 books.


-- Addicted – Read 12 books.


-- Obsessed – Read 20 books.


3. Any book format counts.


4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.


5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Only books started on January 1st count towards this challenge.

Joining for the Curious Level. There are a lot of classics that I really need to get to and I am hoping through this challenge I will be able to read them at least!
Come Join at Royal Reviews!

Romance Challenge, 2010

This challenge includes all sub genres of Romance i.e. paranormal, young adult, historical etc. So this should give you plenty of options.

Challenge Guidelines:
1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
--Non-Bloggers: Include your information in the comment section.

2. There are four levels:

-- Curious – Read 3 Romance Fiction novels.

-- Fascinated – Read 6 Romance Fiction novels.

-- Addicted – Read 12 Romance Fiction novels.

-- Obsessed – Read 20 Romance Fiction novels.

3. Any book format counts.

4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Only books started on January 1st count towards this challenge.

Go Here to JOIN!
I am in for the curious level again though I am sure I will up the level, as the year continues!

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Historical Reading Challenge

Royal Reviews have blackmailed with a wonderful giveaway and I am joining some of their challenges as well! The fact that they have some of the BEST buttons and participation levels, can be forgotten for a while :-)

Challenge Guidelines:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
--Non-Bloggers: Include your information in the comment section.

2. There are four levels:

-- Curious – Read 3 Historical Fiction novels.

-- Fascinated – Read 6 Historical Fiction novels.

-- Addicted – Read 12 Historical Fiction novels.

-- Obsessed – Read 20 Historical Fiction novels.

3. Any book format counts.

4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.

5. Challenge begins January 1st through December, 2010. Only books started on January 1st count towards this challenge.

I am in for the Curious Level.
My choices are :

Come Join Here!

The Marple Poirot Holmes Challenge

Kals speaks,

Nothing really beats a good old Agatha Christie mystery or an Arthur Conan Doyle masterpiece. I've loved Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes all my life and I doubt we'll find a detective surpassing the unexpected genius of Miss Marple, the exemplary 'little grey cells' of the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, and of course, the master himself - Sherlock Holmes.

It's been a while since I re-read them all, which lead me to the first challenge I'm hosting - The Marple Poirot Holmes Challenge.

Rules:

1. This  challenge is from  January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. 

2. You will have to read a minimum of 6 books in total: two Miss Marple mysteries, two Sherlock Holmes mysteries and two Hercule Poirot mysteries. You can of course, read more than 6 books if you want to.

3. The books you have chosen for this challenge can overlap with other challenges.


Of course you can safely assume that I hav been blackmailed into this by some treacherous freinds of mine :D
But I think I will enjoy this one!


Come join US here! I am sure, you are a cozy mystery Fan yourself!

EBook Challenge 2010

Challenge Guidelines:
1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
--Non-Bloggers: Include your information in the comment section.

2. There are four levels:

-- Curious – Read 3 E-Books.

-- Fascinated – Read 6 E-Books.

-- Addicted – Read 12 E-Books.

-- Obsessed – Read 20 E-Books.

3. Any genre counts.

4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Only books started on January 1st count towards this challenge.

I am again joining the Curious Level :-)

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Go Here to Join

Short Story Reviews

Short Story 16: Useless Beauty by Guy de Maupassant

Available ONLINE through Classic Reader!

My Rating: 3 of 5!

Well this review is going to be difficult. I really didn't care about this one much, thinking of it makes me kind of sad. This story is about a man who is jealous of his wife, of her flawless, timeless beauty and keeps on restricting her doing out and participating in the society by making her pregnant. After doing this 7 times over a period of 11 years, the wife strikes back with a secret long kept that shakes the man and makes him miserable. What happens next and what that secret was is for you to read.

This one is divided into 3 "acts". I definitely would quietly frankly skip the 2nd "act", which showcases what a couple of guys think of her and the universe and the role of beautiful people, in general. Otherwise it was quite a good story.

Priya's Review

Short Story 17: White Magic by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Available ONLINE through Classic Reader!

My Rating: 4.5 on 5!

On one lovely afternoon, while picking apples Avery, the beautiful one confesses to Janet- the not-so beautiful one that she is not in love with Randall Burnley, whom she is going to marry in few weeks time. Janet cannot fathom how Avery cannot love Randall at all. So she takes it upon herself to make Avery love Randall because she cannot see Randall miserable!

What happens next is for you to discover. Oh! This was a delightful read. I loved it. I surely am going to read more from this author! Highly recommended!

Short Story 18: Next Stop Table for Two by Cecilia Ahern

Available ONLINE

My Rating: 4 of 5!

This story portrays 30 year old Lucy, who has never loved anyone in her life. She is lonely and depressed by the monotone her life is and dislikes Valentines day for how it makes her feel to see so many lovers around. Oh! I know Cecilia, you have a knack of writing stuff like this and make me feel good :)

I remember watching PS I Love you and crying and crying and loving it eventually. This one is a good one... makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. Oh yes, it is predictable, but what the heck... it makes you feel good!

Shona's Review

Priya's Review

I read this one for 100 shots of shorts challenge, he is hosting! Join in the challenge here.

Cover Attractions!

This book cover caught my eye in Dar's blog! And I love it! Love the vintage effect and all that!

About the book -

Raised to be a 'new woman' by her mother and three college roommates in the 70's amid anti-war protests, feminist rallies, and finals, Rain Rasmussen discovers that putting her career first has left her overdrawn at the egg-bank, and her baby fever has now driven off her significant other.
When her terminally ill mother demands a Celebration of Life before she dies; they all confront ghosts from the past on a 'stormy' weekend in Monterey.  Bebe, the roommate closest to Rain's heart, revisits choices that have impacted Rain the most, raising doubts about God's—and her own—willingness to forgive and to be forgiven.

Dar says in her review,

Raising Rain is a novel that carries story lines that could happen to any of us. That's its appeal; you could easily see yourself in these situations and you wonder what you might do if it were you.

And her review tempts me to pick this one up :-)

Thank you Marcia for hosting! What covers are you attracted?!

Along Came a Spider by James Patterson

Along Came a Spider

By James Patterson

Published in 1992

Paperback, 502 Pages

From GoodReads.com,

A missing little girl named Maggie Rose. A family of three brutally murdered in the projects of Washington, D.C. The thrill-killing of a beautiful elementary school teacher. A psychopathic serial kidnapper/murderer who calls himself the Son of Lindbergh. He is so terrifying that the FBI, the Secret Service, and the police cannot outsmart him-even after he's been captured.Gary Soneji is a mild-mannered mathematics teacher at a Washington, D.C., private school for the children of the political and social elite. He's so popular that the kids all call him "Mr. Chips." And he's very, very smart. Growing up, he always knew he was smarter than the rest of them-he knew that the Great Ones always fooled everybody. He kidnaps Maggie Rose, the golden-haired daughter of a famous movie actress, and her best friend, Shrimpie Goldberg, the son of the secretary of the treasury, right out from under the noses of their two Secret Service agents. But Gary Soneji is not surprised at his skill. He's done it before. Hundreds of times before. Alex Cross must face the ultimate test as a psychologist: how do you outmaneuver a brilliant psychopath? Especially one who appears to have a split personality-one who won't let the other half remember those horrific acts? Soneji has outsmarted the FBI, the Secret Service, and the police. Who will be his next victim?

I was totally expecting something that would be thrilling, exciting and a page turner with this one; but well it was not to be. I felt drained, bored at some point and left the book many times without reading it for couple of days, the only thing that kept me going, was to get through it for the challenges I was reading this for.

2 kids of famous political and film personality get abducted by a guy who was there own teacher for some time right under the nose of the Secret Service guys who were supposed to look after the kids. The kidnapper calls himself The Son of Lindbergh [ after some famous kidnapping case that has not been solved since ages]. Alex Cross [ our hero] and his pal Sampson are assigned this case in which they have to work with the FBI and the kidnapper is a psychopath with a difficult childhood and has already murdered 200 or more people and all the previous cases are unsolved. He is smart and is 1 step ahead of the forces. He wants to be famous and wants to be noticed.

Well, first things first, the 1st part of the novel was OK, it was fast. but eventually I was bored with Alex [ the narrator. The narration is also done by the kidnapper. ], the FBI, police and politics. Then there is Jenny who is the top notch in the secret Service who were responsible for the kids safety, gets involved with Alex romantically, God! there relationship was boring too...Oh and the worst part I realized what was going to happen too, it was predictable. I didn't like it at all. I think he could have made this one shorter by a 100 pages by cutting out all the unnecessary details. I was BORED.

Not recommended at all.

Monday Updates

A huge thanks to J.Kaye for hosting this which helps me chart out my progress and get depressed at no progress and exhilarated at a little :D!

Last Monday post was cool in a way that I had so much to write about! This Monday I am tired and sleepy and...brrr!

I didn't finish anything last week except Along Came a Spider [I am struggling with my review though]

I am reading...Anne of Green Gables [ I love this cover, pictures Anne so well], in the hopes of finishing the Classics Challenge and the What's in a Name Challenge 2!

In other updates, I received Visions in White...from Shona! Wow! I am already behind on my reading :-) ! I need some energy LOL!

Another one was Yorkshire Molly, which was a giveaway WIN from Amy[Passages to the Past]! With this I also received a painting depicting 2 ladies of that era. I need to take pic of it and post :)

Nice... this post makes me feel nice :)

On the personal front, our visiting relatives have gone home and I am now waiting for my mom :o)!

Shona and me are proud of the online book club we have just started through Google Wave and our first read is going to be Persuasion by Jane Austen! Gosh, I really needed some push to get the book rolling! We have some nice girls in our club - ME, Shona, Kals, Nishi,, Priya and lets see who else is going to join in! Are you interested? Zap me a mail, ok!?

Shona, Priya and me are competing in the 100 Shots of Shorts Challenge. Priya and Shona are getting ahead of me LOL!

On Friday, Husband and me went to see "Paa", the movie and I actually liked it! Review will be coming soon!

Hmm.. that's ALL I can think of right now. How was your week?! What are you reading?!

Saturday Quotes!

The best short fiction is only small in terms of word count. The form's true practitioners place a premium on concision even as they allow their imaginations free rein. That tension between control and freedom is where the short story lives.

—Richard Russo

South Asian Author Challenge

Our beautiful host, S. Krishna says,

This challenge is to encourage people to read books by South Asian Authors – South Asia being India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Please note that it does not include the Middle East! The books can be from any time period, contemporary or classic.

There are two requirements for a book to qualify for the South Asian Author Challenge, both of which must be met:

1) The author must be of South Asian descent.  It doesn’t matter if they’re third or fourth generation, or are only half South Asian – I’m pretty flexible on this issue.
2) The book must be about South Asia in some way.  It doesn’t have to be set in South Asia, as long as it’s about the culture or history in some way.  On the other hand, it can be set in South Asia and not be about South Asians.

 So I am joining this challenge as well. I am going to read 3 books -

1. The White Tiger
2. The Reluctant Fundamentalist
3. The Enchantress of Florence

I think Family Matters by Rohiton Mistry is another book I "could" read!

Thank you S. Krishna for hosting this. Join this challenge!

Clear Off Your Shelves: Wrap-up!

On Nov 30th, this 2 month long challenge came to an end.

My commitment was 20 % for this challenge...

SO, out of the 9 books I read in these 2 months, 5 were in my TBR for a long time. So, I have 55%!! YAY!! I completed this challenge successfully!

The Titles -

Along Came a Spider by James Patterson [ review coming soon]

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

True Believer by Nicholas Sparks

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

Thank you S. Krishna for hosting this challenge!I enjoyed it!

Another Challenge!

So what, if I have not yet completed last year's challenge yet [ I still need to read a book with a building name in it **phew**], I am all in for this one this year as well!

So our lovely host for this year Beth F says,

Between January 1 and December 31, 2010, read one book in each of the following categories:

1. A book with a food in the title
2. A book with a body of water in the title: Like the Flowing River by Paulo Coelho
   
3. A book with a title (queen, president) in the title: My Wicked Marquees by Gaelen Folly
   
4. A book with a plant in the title
5. A book with a place name (city, country) in the title: Yokshire Molly by Peter Mottley
   
6. A book with a music term in the title

Come join with Beth F and me!! No, you won't find books in all categories... that's what the whole of next year is for! We will figure it out! I am sure my list will change!

Short Story Reviews

Short Story 14: The Child's Story  by Charles Dickens

Available ONLINE to read.

My Rating: 5 on 5!

I cannot talk about this story without giving it away. So I suggest EVERYONE should read this simple and short tale written by Charles Dickens!

It is a heart warming simple tale.

Short Story 15: The Christmas Tree and the Wedding by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Available ONLINE to read.

My Rating: 4.5 on 5!

In this story the narrator is at a Children's ball, where he is a loner. He takes about watching the many guests and the way the hosts treat them according to there rank and status.

He in due course watches a personage who seems to be the distinguished guest of the party and the way he conducts himself and what happens when he comes to know about the dowry that would be given for the little 11 yr-old daughter of the hosts! I really enjoyed this story as well. Classic.

Rebecca's Reviews. I owe thanks to her for these stories!

I read this for 100 shots of shorts challenge, Rob is hosting! Join in the challenge here.

Cover Attractions!

Oh! This cover is adorable ... no doubt about it! Just this cover, will make me want to pick this one up! I love this one!

I didn't find much info about this book on the Amazon and the Good Reads. Sad...

The one on the left is also CUTE... the darling girls on it.. and that blue is lovely too :)

This one on the right, is another one that is so cute... the dirt on their faces and the naughty smiles... adorable, don't you think?

So today's theme has to be Kids! Tell me which one of the 3 is your fav? Mine is definitely the 1st one :)

Thank you Marcia for hosting this one!In Cover Attractions, I post about all the covers that I loved the past week and little about them. I never obviously read them though... but if I do find them here... no one is going to be able to stop me from buying them LOL!