BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY - Horror Stories collected by Susan Price - CONTEST CLOSED!

What could be better this time of year than a collection of spooky tales? Susan Price has filled the order with twenty-four short stories from the likes of John Steinbeck, Stephen King and Charles Dickens. Don't let the name Stephen King frighten you, though. The works in this book are relatively tame and aimed toward a younger (pre-teen?) audience. It is well-worth readng, even if just to enjoy The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe, which has always been a favorite of mine. From the ghost of a murderer to a troll, Grendel the monster to needy chewing gum, this book has a story to suit every taste. My rating: 3/5

To enter, you must comment to this post. A winner will be chosen at random on November 14th. But my regular readers know there is a catch to the comment! You must comment on a memorable Halloween you have had. It can be a party memory, favorite costume, or the year your neighbors disappeared!

For me, my Halloween 'moment' happened when I was quite young. Dad took my brother and I out trick-or-treating on base where we lived. I was dressed as a witch - yet I came back as a clown! Turns out that a lady liked my witch's hat; so she did a trade with me. My mother was quite confused when we returned!

BOOK REVIEW: The Devil You Know by Mike Carey

Felix Castor is an exorcist, a real-life ghostbuster. He lives in a world where ghosts are nearly common-place, demons can be summoned, and werewolves (were-lions, were-dogs, were-anything!) exist. In a world like that Felix provides a service. He plays a little tune, wraps the ghost up in it, and sends them away - somewhere. Because of a horrible incident, Felix is in retirement. He is done with the paranormal, and is trying to make his living as a birthday clown - which is almost as scary! Of course, the paranomal won't LET Felix retire. Well, that and the mounting bills. So he takes on another exorcism - and uncovers a secret so vile that he just might be sent to join the spirits he sends away!

Care spun an interesting tale. Exorcism and all that comes with it are commonplace in the book, but the unusual environment doesn't seem jarring at all. Carey wrote his book in such a casual tone that the reader isn't suprised at all by the spooks that haunt this world. He injects enough humor and cynicism into our unlikely hero that I couldn't help but like him. He is good at what he does and yet has enough human flaws to still screw up both his work and life occasionally. I have heard that this is the start of a series, and I certainly hope so. Felix Castor reminds me of the old gumshoe detectives who always step on the wrong toes. My rating: 4/5

I can't offer this one up to y'all, it's already back at home in the library. But check it out for yourself is my advice!

Wordless Wednesday - If I Were King of the Forest

Congratulations!!!

Congrats to one of our Italian friends, Avalonne83!  She has won my copy of A Death in Vienna by Daniel Silva!!!  Avalonne83, I will be e-mailing you for your address!  If I don't hear anything from you by Tuesday, Nov. 4th, I will have to choose another winner!

I hope to have another book contest up soon for all of you!

Wordless Wednesday - Arkansas

Turpentine Creek

A few years ago my husband and I took an anniversary trip to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Turpentine Creek is home to lions, tigers, bears (oh my! - you knew that was coming), cougars, and even a petting zoo with goats, a sheep and a pot-bellied pig. Most are rescued animals. People across the country buy exotic animals such as a tiger cub because they are so cute. One day, these same people wake up and find out that Fluffy is an 800 pound carnivore who would like to snack on Rover next door. So they call places like Turpentine Creek.

Because their hearts are so big, Turpentine Creek can't refuse to help these cats. Of course, that costs money, especially when the staff is trying to get many of the cats into habitats where they can feel grass under their paws, sometimes for the first time. So that's where you all come in! If you live near Eureka Springs, go visit. It will run you $10-15 for a day pass. Or, you could make a vacation of it, like we did. We stayed in their Treehouse for a few nights and got to hear the big cats caroling to each other in the darkness - what an experience!!!!

If you can't make it, check out their store. (Notice new fancy widget to the right.) OK, really it is more of an adoption center. You can adopt any of their animals for a year. That can be kinda pricey, so maybe you can get one of their calendars for $10. They even have a pic on it of their new baby black leopard, Spyke. (Please note - Turpentine Creek does not purposely breed the animals, but sometimes they are rescued pregnant.) OR, you can check out their online store, where they sell T-shirts, postcards, etc.

One final way to help is to donate STUFF. They can use things as simple as paper towels and first aid kits to something as big as a mobile home. So please check out their site and see how you can help! Every tiny little bit helps!

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Last Known Victim by Erica Spindler

It's 2007 in post-Katrina New Orleans. Captain Patty O'Shea of the NO Police Department is still trying to recover. She and her husband, NOPD Captain Sammy O'Shea, stayed through the storm to protect the people left behind. During the panic, Sammy goes missing. He is found in the days after the storm, shot to death in a well-to-do neighborhood.

All the pain is refreshed for Patty when Sammy's badge is found in a shallow grave with the victim of a serial killer. Tracking down this killer, The Handyman, becomes personal with the knowledge that he killed Sammy along with 6 women.

This was a fantastic book! I'm sure that I would have enjoyed reading it, but listening to it was pure delight. Susan Ericksen, the reader, brings every character to life. With her skilled voice, their personalities become defined in the listener's mind. I enjoyed it so much that I will most likely seek out books read by her regardless of the subject.

But what about the book itself? Terrific, I say! Spindler had me on the edge of my seat from day one. She creates real characters with human flaws: greed, insecurity, snobbishness. The police don't always do the right thing, and just about anyone could be the bad guy. Spindler kept me guessing throughout the book - who is the killer? I theorized how and why characters could have committed the crimes, and what they did next. And I'm not going to tell you if I ever guessed right - I want you to go out and check this one out yourself! My rating: 5/5.

I can't offer this one up to you, it goes back to the library today. But if I were you, I would go run and find a copy today!

Wordless Wednesday - Crazy About the Carnation

Winner WindyCindy!

WindyCindy must be living right!  She won my copy of The Intelligencer by Leslie Silbert.  Like me, she would like to be a PI. 

WindyCindy, I have your addy, so I will send to you this week!

Everyone else, check out my giveaway for A Death in Vienna by Daniel Silva!  There I go with the Death thing again!

BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: A Death in Vienna by Daniel Silva - CONTEST CLOSED!

Set across Europe and in Israel, A Death in Vienna is a spy tale intent on righting some of the wrongs of The Holocaust. Part-time spy Gabriel Allon is sent to Vienna by The Office (think CIA, but deadlier) to investigate a bombing at the Wartime Claims and Inquiries office. Following clues to the identity of a Nazi officer, Gabriel travels the globe with an assassin hot on his tail.

While this book was very interesting, and I learned more about the atrocities of the Nazis, I can't say it was riveting. I feel that spy novels should keep the reader on the edge of his seat. With this book I could barely bring myself to finish it!!! Maybe I was too preoccupied with new hobbies, but I just couldn't get into this book.  My rating: 2/5

However, perhaps one of you will enjoy it. It is up for grabs to a lucky reader. To enter, I just want to know what countries you have visited. A winner will be drawn at random Monday, 10/27/08 (unless I am running late again!).

As for myself, I was born in the US. I lived in West Germany from the ages of 6-7. (Yes, it really was still West Germany then!). Back to the US, and then we moved to Saudi Arabia for ages 12-14. I've been in the US since then. While living in Saudi, I took a week long trip to London on a school trip, and I visited the tiny island of Bahrain ever so briefly. Other than a small stop-over in Cyprus (never left the plane!), that's about it! How about you guys?

I'm a Slacker

You've all probably noticed my lack of posting lately.  I've been on vacation at home, so you would think that I would be posting more.  Apparently not.  So, what's been going on with me since October 2?

• October 3 - Last day of work before vacation makes for cranky cranky Susan.  But they did have a little party for me at work because I was going to be on vacation for my birthday.  That night we picked up my friend Malcolm for a weekend stay.
• October 4 - Hung out with Malcolm.  Breakfast, a trip to Nigro's Western Wear and a trip to Cabela's.  Later we did dinner at Famous Dave's (try the Smoked Salmon Dip - I LOOOVE that stuff!) and then played Munchkin with shaunesay and her hubby.

Hey Ma!  Look What I Got At Nigro's! (Malcom gave permission for this photo & caption)

The fish (he was huge!) and turtle are from Cabela's live aquarium, and the other scenes are fantastic examples of their taxidermy!

• October 5 - Football, burgers and took Malcolm to the train station.  To my friends in Illinois, Malcolm paid less than $100 for a round trip fare on the train to KC.  Sure, he slept on the couch, but we had a super-fun weekend!  (hint-hint) 
• October 6 - Happy Anniversary to Del & I!  Nine years of marriage!  Mom sent this pretty arrangement.

• October 7 - Movies at home.
• October 8 - Happy Birthday to Me!  34 years old, in case you were wondering.  I ordered a nifty Media Player from Amazon with birthday gifts from shaunesay and mom.  Now I'm on pins & needles waiting for it to show!!!
• October 9 - Del had to go back to work.  :(  I spent the day making banana bread and crocheting.  Yes, I still have an addiction.
• October 10 - Today!  So, I'm supposed to have a drawing for The Intelligencer today.  Probably won't happen.  Keep entering.  I'm trying to finish reading my next drawing first- will try to read like a crazy person!!!

So that's it.  My vacation hasn't been super-exciting.  I was carded when I bought a Margarita at Red Robin.  You think the girl just felt sorry for me?  It was an awesome drink, BTW.  The burgers rocked too.  Actually, I had chicken.  It still rocked.

I'll try to get better about posting, but that crochet addiction is really taking up a lot of time.

Wordless Wednesday - Only in Kansas

BOOK REVIEW: Uglies by Scott Westerfield

Tally Youngblood is Ugly. But in just a few short weeks she'll have the surgery to make her Pretty, just like her friend Peris. But for now she has to make it through the summer alone, until she meets Shay. Tally wants nothing more than to be a Pretty. The Pretties get to have fun and go to all the parties. The Uglies just watch the fireworks from the other side of the river. Yet Shay isn't entirely sure she wants to be a Pretty. At the last minute, Shay escapes to the Ruins. Though Tally will miss her, nothing will stop her from getting the surgery, leaving the Ugly life behind. However, the authorities have a different plan for Tally. They won't let her turn Pretty unless she finds Shay and brings her back.

Though slow-going at first, Uglies had a very interesting commentary on the world. Set in a technologically advanced world, the line between Ugly and Pretty is definite. In order to eradicate jealousy, unequal treatment and even wars, the surgery has been developed to make everyone Pretty once they turn 16. On the surface, I'm all over this idea. But Westerfield ends up showing his audience that being unique just may be worth more than being Pretty. Uglies is the first in the series, followed by Pretties. All through the book, I wasn't certain that I would bother with the next book. However, with the way Uglies ended, I have to see what happens next!

I ended up liking the book, though it was a little long-winded. It has an interesting lesson to learn. My rating: 3/5.

I can't give this YA novel away, but would recommend it, especially to its target audience.

Holy Crap, I'm Rated R!!!

Can you believe it? I figured that I was starting a new month, I would re-rate myself - Rated R!!! Apparently the death thing has increased. I have issues.

Wordless Wednesday - Headscarf

Hey guys!  This is a completed headscarf that I made!  I really didn't want to post a pic of me, but Del wouldn't like it if I made him model it.  You may notice that once again Ramses put himself in the picture. (back right)