Donner The Western Dragon : A Hero’s Tale by Suzanne Davis Marion

Title: Donner The Western Dragon : A Hero’s Tale


Series: None

Author(s): Suzanne Davis Marion

Genre:Children’s

Publisher: Book Surge Publishing

Received:From Bostick Communications for review purposes

Release Date: November 27th 2009

Finished: September 14th 2010

Pages: 40

Challenges: None

Rating:

My Thoughts: Donner is unlike many of the Western Dragons. He is calm and likes the peacefulness of the meadow. The other dragons tease him because his best friend is a unicorn.
The teasing stops when Donner does something the other dragons couldn’t.
This a beautifully illustrated book. I love the water colored panels, they make the flow of the story unique.
Fantasy tales like this always make me feel like a kid again. I think it will be a joy to read too any child.



About the Author: Suzanne Davis Marion wrote another book called Too Many Tutus . I did not find a official book site for Mrs. Marion but she has a site for her custom made lullabies http://www.lullabiesbysuzanne.com/index.html
 

Little Stories by Jeff Roberts

Title: Little Stories


Series: None

Author(s): Jeff Roberts

Genre: Essays

Publisher: Outskirt Press

Received: From Bostwick Communications for review purposes

Release Date: August 14th 2008

Finished: September 13th, 2010

Pages: 108

Challenges: None

Rating:

My Thoughts: Little Stories is just that, a bunch of little stories of different people at different places in there lives. Written by the author while he attended college.
Starting the first story “Relativity” captures the feelings of loss, anger and disappointment.
Another story “A Triptych” where a married man on a break from his wife sits on a bus next to an older farmer who misses his dead wife of 50 years. As the older gentleman talks about his history with his wife the younger man thinks of his wife. The end of the story you can see a difference of farmer’s life back in the day to the way relationships are now.
My least favorite story was “A Question of Perspective”. The story ended so abruptly and I didn’t really understand it.
I enjoyed the stories although most of the stories ended sadly or poorly. I in some ways I liked it because of those things. The writer captures emotions well and you really relate to what the characters are feeling.


About the Author: Jeff Roberts resides in Kansas. He has written a few other books and poetry. There is no official website that I can find if you know other wise let me know.
 
 

A Bookish Life - 9/14/10

 Normally this Sunday's Post but I got behind.  I still am.  This has the schedule for this week.  It maybe a little off but will do for now. 


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First off I would like to thank Vicki from Reading At The Beach for giving me The Great Blog Neighbor Award.  Just knowing that you read my blog is awesome!  Thank you!

I actually finished a book that was not a kids book this week.  I finished Devil in a White City by Erik Lawson.
For a while on the sidebar that lists what I am currently reading there was/is a book called Trouble Starts, Paine Follows.  I order it and have been waiting almost a month and they say i
will take another 3 weeks.  I don’t know I think it is a lost cause. Oh well... I have other books I can read.



Monday

Review of ”Little Stories” by Jeff Roberts

Tuesday
It’s Tuesday Where Are You (maybe event)
Teaser Tuesday (maybe event)
Review of “Donner The Western Dragon” by Suzanne Davis Marion


Wednesday
Confuzzled Short Story 5 - “TBA” by Shannon McGee

Thursday
Review of “Dragonspell” by Donita K. Paul

Friday
Faery Friday - “Katie The Kitten Fairy” by Daisy Meadows

Saturday
Weekly Geek (maybe event)
Special TBA

Sunday
Sunday Salon (event)


In Author News

At my local Bookstore this Thursday is Peter Brown author of Children Make Terrible Pets.
I  don’t know if I will make it but the book looks fun.

Lizzie And The Tooth Fairy by Judith Wolman

Title: Lizzie And The Tooth Fairy
Series: None
Author(s): Judith Wolman
Genre: Children’s
Publisher: Dandelion Press                                         
Received: From Bookmooch
Release Date:    April 1, 1979
Finished: September 9, 2010
Pages: 32
Challenges: None
Rating: 

 

 






 My Thoughts: Lizzie knows other kids in school who have lost teeth and gotten something from the Tooth Fairy, but Lizzie’s teeth are not loose yet.  So she waits eagerly for a baby tooth come out.
I suppose a child who is just learning about the tooth fairy might be intrigued by this story.  
It is an older book than most of the ones I’ve reviewed, first published in 1979, and the art was a little faded in my copy.
This was a pretty general story about the tooth fairy. After reading it, I was positive I had read it before.   
About the Author: Judith Wolman has written many children’s books, and it looks like most of them were written in the 70’s. I could not find a website on her - if you find one, comment and let me know.

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

 Title: Dead Until Dark
Series: Sookie Stackhouse series (or Southern Vampire series)
Author(s): Charlaine Harris
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Ace      
Received: acquired from Paperback Swap
Release Date:     May 1, 2001
Finished: April 2010
Pages: 292
Challenges: None
Rating: 

 

 






My Thoughts: Unlike most humans, Sookie Stackhouse can read people‘s minds. And having supernatural ability like her’s attracts other supernatural beings, like Bill, who is a vampire.   Sookie is very attracted to Bill, and he is attracted to her. As their relationship blossoms, deaths begin to surround Sookie and Bill  Many think the murderer is a vampire.

I completely understand the magnetic pull to this series. Sookie is an interesting, almost-normal character with an ability she doesn’t want. Bill is an awkward, blood-thirsty vampire. Like Bill, I thought his relationship with Sookie was strange. I could not understand why they felt the need for each other, but that feeling wore off as I kept reading and accepted their relationship ... sort of.

This is not a teenage vampire romance. So if you are looking for another Twilight, this may not be for you. There are adult situations and I would recommend no one under 16 read.

About the Author: Charlaine Harris has been writing for 25 years. The Sookie Stackhouse series is her most known series, but she has two different mystery series as well. Visit her Official website at http://www.charlaineharris.com/index.html.

Confuzzled Stories #4 - Death Of A Mermaid by Shannon McGee

 Death Of A Mermaid by Shannon McGee

“Tell me if you heard this one,” said my elvish friend Caran, ”A satyr and a centaur walk into a bar...”
“Ugh...” I groaned and covered my face. ”Please stop; no bar jokes. I’ve heard them all, and we’re here any way.”
“Alright.” Disappointed, Caran looked around to see if anyone was watching. After all, we were breaking into the local pool. (Actually the waters left from the waters of Avalon.) Hey, don’t judge: I ‘m a Elf, not a Angel.

You might ask why the two of us were breaking in to swim. The answer is, because we were plain bored.  

Caran stared through the broken part of the fence and went ahead to make sure everything was clear. I heard him whistle for me to meet him. Caran stood by the water in the darkness, giggling and ready to dive.

“Thank goodness the world quake didn’t damage this area or we would have nothing to do,” he said, then he plunged in.

I let my legs hang over the side of the pool to get use to the water and waited for him to come up to ask my question:“There was a quake today?”

“Yeah. Didn’t you feel it around noon? You probably were at work.”

“At noon?” I mumbled to myself, trying to recall the day. Wrangling those Confuzzled Fae was pretty rough. There could have been one and I didn’t notice or ... what ... is that a .. .Oh My, it’s Lanna ... Her face looks ...  I tried to stand up and scream, but I slipped on the tile and everything went black.

I woke up to lights flashing all around and tried to remember where I was. The last memories I had came back, and I sobbed and called for Caran. He quickly came to my side. Not realizing what was going on around me, I started and grabbed Caran at his shoulders. “You have to help her Caran! It’s not ...  Oh, Lanna! Help her.” I spit out words as I cried, my mind fixed on the memory of the deformed face of my mermaid friend Lanna staring blankly up from the pool.

Caran hugged me and said calming things. He tried to explain what happen and that no one could help Lanna, but it all didn’t register. I started to stand up and walked toward the pool looking for her, but Caran said they had already taken her out. I noticed some thing in the bottom of the pool--there was a huge crack in it.  Caran saw me looking and explained, “They said the crack probably came from the world quake today. We probably didn’t see it because the lights were on. They aren’t sure, but they figure it must lead to the lake around Atlantis where Lanna lives.”

“But what happen? How did she die?” I asked.

“They think she was scared to death,” he said in a sorrowful voice. ”Look, we should go. You should get some rest and there is really nothing we can do.”

I followed him dutifully, but my thoughts were anything but done with the death of Lanna the mermaid. I will find out what happened, and when I do ... I will ... Well ... I don’t know. But it will be epic.

Of Lights in the Night: Friends and Adventure by Sean Noonan

Title: Of Lights in the Night: Friends and Adventure
Series: The Everlasting and Fantastical Adventures of Elannah and Sam
Author(s): Sean Noonan
Genre: Children’s
Publisher: Outskirts Press                                              
Received: From Bostick Communications for review purposes
Release Date:     March 15, 2010
Finished: September 7, 2010
Pages: 68
Challenges: None
Rating: 

 

 






My Thoughts: After a night of fireworks with the family, bedtime comes for the younger ones, Elannah and Sam. But sleep does not stop their adventures, as they dream about meeting talking animals and wizards.

Noonan has a magical way of describing events, and I was eager to turn each page and find out what happens. The wizard’s magic fireworks names were grand like The Parrots, Pirates and Pancakes Piratical Pyrotechnics. I think every family will wish for dreams just like Elannah and Sam.

About the Author: Sean Noonan gave up his day job to write books for children, such as this one  featuring his actual children as Elannah and Sam. He just released the second book in the series called A First Christmas, Friends and Festivity. You can visit his blog at http://everlastingfantasticaladventures.blogspot.com/.

 
 

Art Based on Book - ACEO on Ebay

 I have painted a couple of  ACEO (Artist Card, Edition, Original)  or ATC(Artist Trading Cards) cards based on some books I have reviewed.  

The first one is Bill and Sookie from Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris.  This one is up for auction at Ebay

The second on is based on Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.   Also up for auction Ebay.


I hope to make more of these so keep an eye out.

Journey Into Tomorrow by Veronica Camille Tinto

Title: Journey Into Tomorrow

Series: none
Author(s): Veronica Camille Tinto
Genre: Poetry
Publisher: AuthorHouse                                              
Received: From  Bostick Communications for review purposes.
Release Date:     May 26, 2010
Finished: Sept  6, 2010
Pages: 132
Challenges: None

 Rating:

My Thoughts:
These poems are reflections on the author’s life as she’s dealt with the hardships of a bad divorce and being a single mom.
The poetry is very strong. And if you have been through any hardships in life, you have probably asked the same question Ms. Tinto is asking. In one of the poems, the author says (paraphrasing): Send whatever wickedness you have, and I will be the buoy in the ocean. I felt that was a strong metaphor.
My only issue with the poems was that more then half of them start ed by a question. I understand he author wrote this looking for answers but I think some of the poems should have been edited better to bring out the voice and originality of the author.

About the Author: This is the first book for Veronica Camille Tinto. She has studied Psychology and is a mother. Visit her official site at http://veronicatinto.com/.

 

Sunday Salon - A Bookish Life 9/5/10

I have gotten a little more reading these weeks but still haven’t finished one of the five books I am reading.  I hope to get “Devil In The White City” by Erik Larson done.  It is actually a book my book club was reading a couple of months ago.  Yeah I am really behind on the book club thing.  We meet every first Thursday of the month and right now we are reading “Good Omens” by Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett, which is pretty cool.

Also speaking of Terry Prachett we went to our local Walmart and for $9.00 we picked up two movies made in the U.K.  based on Prachett’s books of the Discworld.   The first one Color of Magic starring Sean Astin and other U.K. actor’s I don’t remember.  Color of Magic is two parts we watched the first part and I was really surprise that they gave the movie a pretty good budget,  
I liked it. The second movie is called Hogfather.



Monday
Review of ”A Journey Into Tomorrow” by Veronica Camille Tinto

Tuesday
It’s Tuesday Where Are You (maybe event)
Teaser Tuesday (maybe event)
Review of “Of Lights In The Night: Friends And Adventure” by Sean Noonan


Wednesday
Confuzzled Short Story 4 - “TBA” by Shannon McGee

Thursday
Review of “Dead Until Dark” by Charlaine Harris

Friday
Faery Friday - “Lizzie And The Tooth Fairy” Judith Wolman

Saturday
Weekly Geek (maybe event)
Special TBA

Sunday
Sunday Salon (event)


In Author News

I forgot to share these pics from May when I went to a book event featuring author Charlaine Harris.

The pictures are not that great but the event was very entertaining, especially since Ms. Harris has great charisma.